Remembering Mother's Day - for Moms Everywhere

She wailed in frustration, "I know I set it down right on the table, and now I can't find the darn thing."

"What darn thing are you talking about?" I asked.

"I've looked everywhere," she exclaimed. "I looked in the bedroom, and the living room, and even in the bathroom. I thought I might have brought it down cellar with me when I did the laundry, but it's not there either."

"What," I asked with exaggerated patience, "are you looking for, exactly?"

"I lose the darn thing all the time. You know what I'm talking about. The hoosie whatsit, the cordless phone."

"Ummm, Mom, are you talking to me on it?" I asked delicately.

There was a slight pause. Then, thank goodness, she laughed.

"Oh darn" she said "I'm talking to you on it."

We tease her about this mercilessly. It's even funnier than the time she lost her glasses while she was wearing them. The friend she was visiting at the time was helping her look for them, and even though she knew we'd never let her live it down, she told us the whole story anyway.

Like everyone these days, she can be a little absentminded at times. But, lest you think we are making fun of a poor senile little old lady, I'll tell you what she's never lost and what she always remembers.

She remembers all the bad things I've ever done but she's never lost her sense of humor.

She remembers to ignore the fact that I have as many faults as she does even when I lose my temper and point hers out.

She remembers to call me after doctor's appointments and on special occasions, and she never loses the ability to forgive me when I forget to call her.

She remembers to bring her camera to every special occasion, and she never loses the embarrassing pictures.

She always remembers to buy me a gift even though she forgets that having a mother who cares is the only gift any child needs.

She remembers all the silly things that I did growing up, some of which I'd like to forget, and she's never lost the ability to make me laugh at myself.

She remembers that both her children always have a need to be right about everything, and she never loses patience with either of us.

She never misses the chance to encourage me, and care about the things that are important to me, and she never loses her capacity to love me even when I'm not the best daughter.

Someday, she may lose her eyesight or her hearing, all the gray hairs we've given her over the years, or even her memory. But she won't need to worry about it because I'll never forget to be there for her after remembering all the ways she's been there and everything she's done for me.

And my wish for my mom and moms everywhere:

May you remember every detail of every good thing that's ever happened to you and lose everything that needs to be cleaned, controlled, cured or cooked on Mother's Day.