mother's day

Interesting…I do not have normal mother memories. Without revisiting history that is over 70 years old, let me just say that I had less than a normal childhood. The woman I most often refer to as my mother, Mildred Gantt Bacon. My dad’s second wife.

But let me back up to my grandmother Georgia Mae Bacon. I lived with my grandparents for a while when I was maybe 11 or 12. Georgia, in my memory was not a very warm and nurturing women. However, to her credit she was a strong and determined women. What seems very normal by today’s standards of mini-vans, soccer practices and two income families, was not the norm in the late 50’s. Georgia had a job and owned her own car. A 1956 Ford Fairlane 4 door hard top, baby blue and white with a Thunderbird engine. She drove herself everywhere she needed to go and took care of the household and worked. No way a “Leave It To Beaver” home. She was the first to set boundaries in my life. My fondest memory of Georgia…she made incredible fig preserves. Fig Preserves to this day are my favorite.

Mildred Gantt Bacon. I cannot remember how long she was married to my dad. Mildred did get the challenge of her life when she adopted me. Through junior high and high school, she was able to turn me around from a punk ass inner city hustler to a respectable young man. And it was not easy. One of the things I will always remember about Mildred…one day when I had been a complete and utter disaster, she stopped and look at me and said- “I will always love you. But, right now young man I don’t like you very much!” Food…has to be her banana pudding. My brother Richard would say her ambrosia salad.

Alma Jean Waldman. Michele’s Mother. The first time I met AJ I was immediately consumed by her warmth and love. It was like being wrapped in a soft comforter. I felt accepted and cared for. Her constant joy and commitment to her family was forever. She was an individual full of grace and creativity. A piece of colored glass, a shiny bead, button, or any other item that she came across, was suddenly part of some future craft project. If there was ever a category for “Craft Hoarder” she certainly would fit that mold. Food…tuna casserole (sometimes without the tuna).

Michele Grace Waldman (Bacon). Early in our relationship Michele made it clear she was not interested in mothering me. That was okay with me. Little did she know that just keeping up with what I am doing or not doing would be such a challenge. (Remember inner city hustler?) Michele as a mother is a person that fits into, in my opinion, the perfect mother with adult kids. Always willing to help, give an opinion when asked, and listen. It is hard to find a lot of information on motherhood with adult children. However, if there were, it would be Michele. Our kids…or as we have begun to call them “ya-our” kids. Yours, mine, and ours. By age…Jennifer, Jo-anna and James. She loves them all and they in turn love her. And they respect her. That in my opinion represents motherhood at this stage in one’s life.
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Those are my thoughts about motherhood and Mother’s Day. Notice this is posted two days after Mother’s Day.

No, I didn’t forget Mother's Day!