Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I is for i heart my mom, insomnia and I wish you enough

- I had my morning cup of tea out of this cup on Monday morning - one I gave my late mother several years ago.  This photo was taken at their home the month they moved to assisted living in September 2009.  I sure miss her, but she lives on in so many ways.  She taught me southern cooking - I rarely cook that way, but should you come to visit, I could make you fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread.  :)  She taught us impeccable manners, to always write thank you notes and that we should always dress up nicely when attending college football games.  She dressed up all the time - she wouldn't walk out to the mailbox without lipstick on.  She had a wonderful infectious laugh - I miss hearing it.  And I am who I am to today because of her. 

- Having a conversation with a solemn young adult who tells me that she never sleeps. I get an involuntary laugh out of her when I tell her that my orthodontist friend offered to bring by some orthodontic journals as a cure for my bout of insomnia. :)

- A former neighbor of my parents, probably the kindest woman who ever lived, emails "forwards" and I do not have the heart to tell her I usually do not read forwards. But the subject line made me read one entitled, "I wish you enough." It is long, about a woman telling about the tradition in her family of saying "I wish you enough" to each other. The essential message is given at the end: 'When we said , 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.'

I wish you enough, my friends.  This is the ninth post in the A to Z Blogging Challenge, featuring the letter "I" - it was going to be about ice cream, but the "i" in the cup caught my attention and it went from there. 

30 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

Lovely post, Lynn. If she made you who you are, she is my hero.

Granny Annie said...

It is very obvious to those of us who know you that your mother did an excellent job raising you. The best thing my mother taught me was "There is ALWAYS hope, no matter the circumstances".

Insomnia has plagued me this weekend because of my upper resp. infection. Sore throat and coughing keep me awake and poor Ron too. I pity anyone with insomnia.

My daughter especially gets angry when I wish her "enough". She says "But I want MORE!"

Snaggle Tooth said...

I have similar mugs from my parents past gifts. I like that design alot. Your Mom must've Been amazing to make someone like you!
I had insomnia alot when I woeked days. Now I take 2k mg of vitamen D3 n sleep much easier. It helps you produce melanin.
What a great wish for folks- I wish you enough too!

Joanne said...

This is such a sweet post, Lynn. Your mother sounds like a wonderful person, which is undoubtedly why you are similarly so.

Elephant's Child said...

A lovely post, and an even more lovely introduction to your mother. Thank you.

SueH said...

I lost my Mum to MS early on - I miss her laugh and her wicked sense of humour and love of playing practical jokes. Shame my kids never knew their Grandma....


SueH I refuse to go quietly!

Tracy said...

What a lovely sentiment...I typically don' read forwards but sometimes the subject is enough to 'intrigue' me :) great visiting you!

Louvregirl said...

I wish you enough, as well, Lynn! That sentiment is exactly right! I will be away for a few days so catch me on the flip side! (I'll be sure and take some pics, though :-D)

Louvregirl :-)

Louvregirl said...

'I' is for igloo.
(From my K-3 teaching material)
:-)

Louvregirl said...

Lynn,
P.S. On a personal note (as I know that you can relate) we just recently placed my father-in-law in a nearby nursing/rehab home as he had two back to back surgeries and then fell after he returned to the nearby apartment he lives in. We are heartbroken. We had him 'home' on Easter day, but he was still not walking well (at all.) Right now he is mostly W/C bound.

Changes in the wind said...

I wish you enough...what a great salutation...thanks for stopping in and leaving a message. I have enjoyed the A-Z challenge and hope you have too.

RaShelle Workman said...

Insomnia - Ugh, just the word makes me crazy! LOL

Lynn said...

Riot Kitty -

And lovely of you to say that! xo

Granny Annie -

Granny Annie -

Thank you for saying that. We clashed a bit here and there (as all moms and daughters surely do), but she was usually right in the end. :) I owe so much to her.

The young lady I wrote about is very troubled and a bit unapproachable, so of course I go out of my way to approach her. Hopefully some adult kindness will be remembered in some way later.

I hope you feel better! I'm sorry to hear you are sick. That Delsym cough medicine worked for me last time I had a cough and was trying to sleep.

Snaggle -

Thank you for saying so - my ego is so boosted today. My mom was amazing.

You know - I just bought some vitamin D3 - I'll make sure to take it at night - I didn't know it might make me drowsy.

I wish you enough, Snaggle.

Joanne -

Thank you for saying that. She was wonderful - I miss her very much.

The Elephant's Child -

Thank you and I hope you are having a happy day today.

Lynn said...

Sue H -

Your mother sounds like a great lady - I'll bet you inherited those same traits and your children love you for it.

Tracy -

Thanks for coming by. I usually read this woman's forwards because she was so wonderful to my mom and dad when they were still living at home.

lg -

I hope you are going off on a fun trip! And I was that one A to Z poster did H is for Igloo. (huh?) I guess she was killing two birds with one stone - so to speak.

I'm sorry to hear about your father-in-law - it's so hard watching someone age, but very often being in a loving assisted living environment is the best thing for them if they are having falls, etc. My mom wore one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up" pendants around her neck and used it more than once.

Changes in the wind -

Granny Annie commented on someone else's blog that we were both doing the challenge - so I sought you out.

RaShelle -

I know - it happens to me now and then. We need to get those orthodontic journals and spread them around. :)

Maude Lynn said...

I wish you enough, too, Lynn!

happygirl said...

I wish you enough. This is the perfect wish for anyone. Not too much, but just enough. The tribute to your mom was lovely. I talk to my mom every morning. Some mornings it's a chore. Some are such a blessing. This morning's chat was a blessing. I need to think that way more often. :)

L said...

great post and pretty mug. i love that you love your mother.

Chatty Crone said...

Lynn, I wish YOU enough. sandie

Sparkling Red said...

I admire women who are always well-groomed, no matter what they are going through. A little lipstick, nailpolish, or hairspray can go a long way.

So, what time should I come over for dinner tonight? ;-)

Anil P said...

Such a wonderful post and reminisce. You mother sounds such a wonderful person, surely a blessing to have been her daughter. I'm sure she lives on so many ways, tangible and intangible. Wonderful sentiment.

MFEO2009 said...

Your mom sounds like she was a wonderful woman. God Bless!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I am glad you changed your mind about your post. It's awesome. "i" like it.

Teresa

Tonja said...

I wish you enough too. :) Accounting text books are good for insomnia too.

Ileana said...

Oh I wish you more than enough, chica! xo

Your mom left you a wonderful legacy. Her spirit and cheer live on in you.

PS - I hate stepping outside without a litte eyeliner under my eyes. I've been this way since 8th grade. lol

LL Cool Joe said...

Aww what a lovely tribute to your mother.

I'm sorry i haven't been here as much as I would like to be, but I'm not on my normal computer at the moment.

Hope your Easter was wonderful Lynn.

Jannie Funster said...

Even without ice cream, this post is still a winner, my dear.

Okay, I'm hoppin' a plane for that chicken and collard greens. Cornbread sounds WONDERFUL!! I'll bring the pickled beets.

xoxo

Susan Kane said...

I loved the variety of this post, and you are right--the cup with the geraniums grabbed me too.

Fireblossom said...

Never sleeps! Gosh, I don't think I love anything more than sleep.

Lynn said...

Mama Zen -

Thanks MZ!

happygirl -

I'm glad your chat was a blessing - I miss my afternoon call with my mom. I used to call her at 4:30p every day - it was our daily date.

Emily -

Thank you - she was the best.

Sandie -

I wish you enough, too, my friend.

Sparkling Red -

Ha - I'd need serious prep time for that. Fried chicken - it's just so much easier to buy it. :)

Lynn said...

Anil P -

She does live on that way. Thank you.

Sunshine -

God Bless you, too!

Journaling Woman -

I like it, too. :)

Tonja -

I had a bout of insomnia last night and thought about the orthodontic journals. :)

Scarlet -

I had eye surgery a few weeks ago and it's killed me to go without eye makeup - I'm just now putting on mascara. Love it.

Joe -

Come by when you can!

Jannie -

I like beets, too! Come on!

xo

Susan -

I still have that geranium, too. Thanks for coming by!

FB -

Me either. I'm withya.