Pat Taub
“Short Takes” is my regular Friday post where I reflect on the past week, citing happenings of interest: a good read, social observations, and the like.
Mother’s Day this Sunday:
I attend a progressive inner-city church in downtown Portland led by a feminist minister. For our Mother’s Day service I will be among five women speaking about their relationships with their mothers. I was asked because I wrote a mother-daughter memoir charting my journey to make peace with my mother. It was a long road but in the end, thanks to an encouraging, supportive editor I discovered a new love and respect for my mother. The key was viewing her life as she lived it and not through my wounded memories. (For more details, see my blog: http://wowblog.me/remembering-mother/)
My mother, age 18, in a fashion magazine photo
My Granddaughter, Jane:
It’s being such a rush to finally have a female cohort in the family, having grown up with brothers and then raising sons. Jane is now 13 with bright green hair. I complained to her mother that I missed Jane’s long blond locks, wondering when I might see them again. Mel, my daughter-in-law, told me I’d have to wait a while. (I failed to remember that when I was 16 I wore nothing but black. A friend of my father’s asked if I went to a lot of funerals.)
Granddaughter Jane of the Green Hair!
Violets:
A welcome spring sighting the other day was this patch of violets in a neighbor’s front yard. Where have all the violets gone? I remember abundant quantities of them in the woods near my childhood home. My mother was always delighted when I surprised her with a handful of freshly picked violets.
Violets in a neighbor’s garden
Food Rut:
While I used to prepare fairly elaborate meals when I had family around to cook for, lately I’ve been preparing the same boring dinners over and over. This coming week I’m going to pull one of my cookbooks off the shelf and try a new recipe each night. Tuna with cognac sauce will definitely elevate my palate!
Trump Madness:
I’m not immune to worrying about Trump’s instability leading to WW3. My heart goes out to all the undocumented immigrants who live in fear of being deported. I wish I could be more effective in challenging him. I think it’s key to organize locally. I want to step up my local political involvement.
Wishing all of you a Happy Mother’s Day whether you’ve birthed children or been a spiritual mother to others.
