Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Mama



Betty Ann gave me books. She was my mother who loved to read. She had expressions about her that were literary, insightful & uncompromising. She stayed at home, took care of the house, raised her babies- her husband knew where to find her & and in between the cleaning and the preparation of meals, she read trashy romance novels that some how got her out of the house, away for the day and into the arms of erotic, romantic liaisons destined to become my mother's legacy to me- her love of books and the reading of their stories.

I used to write her letters from the navy days when I was away. I didn't know, until after she had died, I was told that she loved reading those letters so much that she would show them off all around town. She would send them to her sisters, brothers & read them to her friends and neighbors. She liked my writing and the story I'd tell about Tunis, Alexandria, Barcelona & Greece.

If she was still here, if the cigarettes had not killed her, she'd be my first reader. My mother, my muse, my legacy waits.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

sounds like you mother was a lovely person and like many moms back then.. a great supporter of their children. I enjoyed reading your memory very much ;)