Mothers' Day 2010

My Mammy ~ Al Joelson

My Mammy

We thank you for our own parents, and for all, married or single, who are mother or father to us, as we grow to the to the fullness of the stature of Christ ~ Prayer of Thanksgiving from Order of Marriage, Book of Worship of the United Church of Christ.

This Mother's Day I have been remembering those who, although not my mother, have "mothered" me, especially in the early years of my life. I believe that we all have them, those "married or single, who are mother or father to us, as we grow." I was blessed with many: my mother was the youngest of eight children, six of whom were girls. None of my aunts had children... except, of course, me. I was blessed with six mothers:

Aunt Lill was my mother's oldest sister. According o my mother. when I was small I called Aunt Lill "Momma" and called my mother "Momma Patsy." I remember visiting Aunt Lill for weeks at a time; er humongous meals; climbing the apple tree outside her kitchen window (causing her to yell out the window for me to get down).

Abba was really Aunt Alma. However, I couldn't pronounce "Alma" so her name came out as "Abba" and eventually that became her name. Everyone called her "Abba." For the first four or so years of my life she lived two house from my house. I spent more time at Abba's house than at my own. When she moved to suburbia, I began spending weekends with her. Each Saturday morning we would catch the Blue Motor Coach bus on the street outside he house and go into downtown Louisville. We would shop, eat at the Blue Boar Cafeteria, watch a movie, and buy me a toy.

Annie-- Aunt Ann-- lived in a house filled with "tiques" as I called antiques. When I visited. I was always afraid of breaking something. She was most fun when she would walk with me the few blocks to Bowman Field, Louisville's smaller municipal airport, and watch the planes land and take off.

Aunt Elsie lived in the "country," her home surrounded by corn fields. She and her husband, Odie, took my fishing when I stayed at their house. Both died of cancer much too young.

Aunt Dot (Dorothy) was the youngest of my aunts. And the most fun. She never married. There is a story of a "one true love" who was killed in World War II. I never learned the details. Aunt Dot played the harmonica, accordion, and pipe organ. The was an all-star softball pitcher. She was a very talented artist, working in paints, chalk, pastels, and ceramics. (I own a few of her paintings. three of which I shared in this post: Aunt Dot).

I was blessed with six mothers, which was important because both of my grandmothers had died by the time I was six.

So, as I remember "Momma Patsy," my birth mother this day, I also reflect on those other women who have mothered me.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE

P.S. ~ Alex invites everyone to visit his Mother's Day blog where he shares the story of how I became his mommy kat and the Mother's Day card he and I created for my mother:

Mudders Day Storiez

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