Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Remembering Mama


My aunt and I spent hours and hours "visiting" this weekend while I was in San Antonio with her. Much of our time was spent laughing and talking about Mama. I've told you before that she was quite a character. This picture of she and I touring one of the bath houses here in Hot Springs is one of my favorites - it was back before I let my hair go white and I know we would have looked exactly alike if I was white headed too. Mama had the biggest heart of anyone I know and couldn't stand for anyone to be hurt. But she also loved to tease and play jokes on people. Her primary target was always Daddy.


This picture of Daddy was taken in my back yard right after he caught this huge catfish - he had the best time that day!
Daddy loved to brag to people that he had two sisters and he was the apple of their eye. Mama would immediately agree with him and add that both his sisters were blind. And they really are blind!
When we were little Mama and Daddy never went to church but sometime in the eighties they had a long talk with a Baptist preacher at my aunt's house in Texas and decided they wanted to be baptized. They were living in a little town called Placedo at the time, near Victoria in south Texas. While this was certainly a serious event Mama was never one to take herself seriously and definitely included Daddy in that. So to forestall either of them becoming too proud the towel she included in Daddy's bag for him to dry with after the baptism had the large letters HOLIDAY INN on it. Notice that was Daddy's towel - not hers!
One time when Daddy was just a little too full of himself Mama decided to play a trick on him. Daddy was a salesman and traveled all week, leaving on Monday morning and coming home on Friday evening. Of course over the weekend he expected Mama to get his clothes washed and ironed and ready for him to pack. This particular time, with tiny little stitches, mama sewed up the fly of all Daddy's boxers. And then giggled all week every time she thought about it. Daddy had to rip those stitches out with his pocket knife!
Mama would always take a dare. I remember once her good friend and neighbor, Doris, dared her to put on a bikini and walk around in the backyard. That wouldn't have been so bad...except we'd just had a 6 inch snow. We have pictures of her posing in that bikini. :)
When we traveled, which wasn't often and was always to California to see my grandma, it was almost a joke that mama would have to stop to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes. (I've turned into her!) I remember once that she fussed and squirmed and finally told Daddy he would just have to pull over on the side of the road - she couldn't wait. We were in west Texas I think and there was a little hill just beyond the road. She ran up the hill, went behind a billboard, dropped her shorts and squated down. Only then did she hear the laughing behind her - a field full of folks were picking cotton right behind her. She nearly fell over laughing...but she didn't stop!
I'm nearly 63 years old and if I live to be 93 I'll still miss her.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Morning, Marlene...thanks for sharing. I love to hear stories about your Mom. Wish I had funny stories about my Mom, but she was far too serious. Jo S.

Anonymous said...

Oh what fun, fond memories of your Mama! Thank you so much for telling them in your special way :o)

Becky said...

What a wonderful story!! What great memories you have, and how wonderful for us that you share them!!
Thanks.

Helen said...

LOL!!! You've got some great memories, hon. Your mom was a wonderful woman with a great sense of humor.

Thanks so much for sharing one of your memories with us.

Hugs

Marge said...

Great idea for a post, stories of mama. I may have to steal it! Especially since looking at your picture when I first opened your page, I immediately thought of my mama, who had a blue plaid shirt and a cane, just like your mama's!
And with my white hair, I now look like my mom. And I miss her so much.

Be blessed, dear friend.

Joy said...

Marlene I really enjoyed reading this post ... what lovely memories you have of such a special lady. What a fabulous sense of humour she had, never a dull moment there I'm sure ;o).
Hugs,
Joy :o)

molly said...

She sounds like quite a character!

Michelle said...

I loved hearing about your mama. What a wonderful story. I love your writing. Thank you for sharing.
be blessed,
Michelle

Marilyn Robertson said...

Thanks for sharing your memories with us. You sure made me smile today!

Mary L. Briggs said...

Your momma sounds like she was a very fun and sweet lady!

I enjoyed your recipe post where you mentioned not measuring ingredients~I do that all the time~with varied results, LOL!

Phyllis said...

I love your stories; thanks so much for sharing them.

Your mom sure sounds like a piece of work.....sewing all his flies closed. I bet he had a few words for her about that (in fun of course).

Elaine Adair said...

I KNOW she IS very proud of YOU, telling these stories. Thank you for a loving story of your dear Mom. 8-)

Marie Rayner said...

What wonderful memories and words about your mom. Thanks so much for sharing them with us today!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Another delightful post Marlene. Such great memories you share with us. Great reading!!

hugs, Linda

Needled Mom said...

What wonderful stories! No post of that bikini in the snow??? I can certainly hear the fond memories in your writings.

Love Bears All Things said...

What wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing them with us. I have a similar story about the potty break but I won't tell it here. Your Mother sounds like a wonderful person. I know what you mean about missing her. I miss mine every day. Once she asked me if I was ever going to settle down and quit moving. I replied that she told me to leave my people and follow my husband as the Bible tells us. Follow him, I did. I know she just wanted back close to her. This was just before she died. She and Daddy cried every time I left.
Mama Bear

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Beautiful memories. I especially liked the stitch boxers story! I still have my parents with me. They are in good health, and we get together every few weeks for a visit (they are about an hour away). The stories "yet to be written" hold an intrigue all their own. I'm trying my best to be an active participant in them.

Blessings to you in your trip down memory lane. Thanks for checking in with me. It's good to hear from you.

peace~elaine

Tracy P. said...

Marlene, your stories are always such a treat. I wish I had words to go with more of the images in my memory.