Yesterday, I was pondering out loud about what to write, and Bear said, “Why don’t you write about mothers?”
I shrugged and said instead, I would tell a story.
Once upon a time there was a small girl, who lived in a small house at the end of a small street in a small city. She had plain, straight, cocoa brown hair and wore cat-eye glasses which always slid down her nose. Her homemade dresses were adorned with ric-rac ribbon across the hem, and her knees were always skinned from playing outdoors. In the 1960s, girls didn’t wear blue jeans. Only boys did. For that and so many other reasons, she wanted to be a boy.
She also desperately wanted a bicycle, but her parents were very young and had no money for anything but necessities like food and shelter. The bicycle would have to wait.
Her mother’s name was Rose (yes like the flower) The rest of her mommy’s name was as Irish as the green isle itself. Rose was a pretty mommy, who wore her “sparkling sherry” red hair teased into an “up do.” She smelled wonderful like all mothers do, but her young face was often worried, and the girl tried very hard not to be any trouble. However, one fall day, she came home from second grade with a note pinned to her dress so she wouldn’t forget. Rose read the note and looked at her daughter with sad, brown eyes.
“Honey, I’m afraid you can’t,” she said.
A tear rolled out from under the girl’s glasses and down her cheek. “I can’t join the Brownie scouts,” she said, “Why?”
Rose’s face clouded with embarrassment. “I can’t pick you up from the meetings. I don’t have my driver’s license.” Then, her cheeks grew even more red. “I don’t know how to drive.”
Rose married when she was sixteen and had her daughter the following year. There was never time to learn, and besides, for women, it was a different time.
At her mama’s discomfort, the child rallied, “Oh, I don’t want to join. Not really.” She skipped outside to play with a friend.
After that, the little girl forgot all about Brownies except when the other little girls wore their uniforms to school.
But, Rose didn’t forget. She began taking driving lessons from a friend, and one day, she took the test. When the little girl came home from school, her mama waved a piece of paper in front of her eyes.
The next week, the little girl wore a brown uniform of her own to school. I’m told her smile was like liquid sunshine.
I never forgot. Thank you, Mom.
What a wonderful tribute to your mom, Dee. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Cindy, MCOK´s last blog post..Through the Garden Gate: Monday, May 11th
What a wonderful story! My grandmother got her drivers license at the age of 80!! Drove right up until she passed away at age 94. She would have loved this story…
Beegirl´s last blog post..Turning Outlaw
Where in the world would we be without storytellers? Very nicely told, Dee.
What a lovely story and sweet memorie of your mom / gittan
gittan´s last blog post..Stolt mamma – Proud mum
Gather all the tears you started coast-to-coast and they’d be enough to keep a pink Rose blooming, Dee. This story about your Irish Rose getting her wheels is a sweet one.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Annie in Austin´s last blog post..Thought Pops, Edition 6: Roofs, Roots, Retrospection and Lavender
Dee, That is a wonderful memory to carry with you! Thank you for sharing it with us. How blessed you both must feel to have each other! I hope your Mother’s Day weekend was full of love and celebration! gail
Gail´s last blog post..Through the Garden Gate and Into The Garden of Benign Neglect
That is so beautiful! I’m teary-eyed too. The first picture of the uniforms made me smile though. I can still almost feel the material they were made of!
Hope you had a great Mother’s Day.
Jean´s last blog post..And what are the spring rains bringing?
Brought tears to my eyes for sure.
tina´s last blog post..Name These Plants Game
Dee,
A wonderful Mother’s Day story… so touching how a mother’s love means so much and has such an impact on her children.
Meems´s last blog post..We’re Going To Need A Bigger Basket
Dee:
This has been a day of keeping the kleenex box at hand….. My Mother never learned to drive either, nor for that fact does my sister. What a wonderful story. My Grandmother was widowed when she was 32, had two small boys, didn’t know how to drive, but it was for her children’s sake that she learned…. the sacrifices that Mother’s make on a daily basis for their children is something we need to remember to say ‘Thank you’ for every day of our lives…. a wonderful post! Happy Mother’s Day!
teza´s last blog post..Shhhh, Teza Might Hear Us!
How touching, Dee! I love this story! Such a young mother and so dedicated to her child. Heartwarming. The nicest story I’ve read all day. By the way, amidst the shambles across the street that will be the bank that was once a stand of pine trees, you came to mind when I saw the carnage. I thought of your beautiful spot at the lake. And thought to myself, “I bet Dee doesn’t have any noise in the background in her garden. And certainly no bank across the street.”
Brenda
Brenda Kula´s last blog post..The Gift You Gave Me
What a lovely, loving memory!
Leslie´s last blog post..Where Did All These Roses Come From?
A lovely heartwarming story, Dee. With warm thoughts for a beautiful Mother’s Day!
joey´s last blog post..MOTHER’S DAY MEMORIES
That’s a beautiful, loving sentiment. I had no one to take me to Brownies either. I finally got to be a Girl Scout…when I could ride with my BFF.
MA´s last blog post..Shout out to Idaho Garden Bloggers
What a sweet story and what an even sweeter mom. You were certainly blessed. I loved seeing the brownie uniform – I looked just like that girl in the brown pixie a long, long time ago. My Mom is in the hospital tonight, but I am so grateful to have her — you’ve reminded me of all the sacrifices she made for me along the way. That’s a great tribute to your mom.
Diana´s last blog post..Mystery wildflower
Yes, my eyes teared up, too.
Kathy from Cold Climate Gardening´s last blog post..When is my last spring frost?
What a wonderful story. My mom didn’t drive when I was little either. Happy Mothers’ Day
What a lovely Mother’s Day post Dee. I can relate, and found myself a bit teary-eyed.
linda´s last blog post..Happy Birthday Baby Girl!
That is so touching. It’s a fine example of what mothers will go through for their children.
(My mom didn’t know how to drive either when she got married.)
Mr. McGregor’s Daughter´s last blog post..Morning Jewels
What a sweet memory of the love of your Mother.
I wore a Brownie uniform just like the one in the top picture, and my Junior’s uniform is in the same picture… ahh memories.
Nancy´s last blog post..The Afters
That’s a sweet memory for Mother’s Day. Thanks for sharing, Dee.
Pam/Digging´s last blog post..Visit to Hamilton Pool
What a lovely story for Mother’s Day…
Carol, May Dreams Gardens´s last blog post..Mother’s Day Blooms In My Garden