Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Story of My Life

Do you remember my Mother's Day post? It was all about how different my mother and I are. I got a great response to it.

Gibby specifically asked if my mother read my blog because she would hate to see her miss that tribute.

Well, my mother does not have a computer - old dog/new tricks and all that.

But I decided, since the response was so overwhelmingly positive, that I'd convert it to a word document and print it out. I printed the comments, too, because - well, she responds well to the opinions of others.

We had planned to celebrate Mother's Day tonight because they were going to be visiting us anyway for my daughter's orchestra concert. I proudly presented her with my letter along with her gift.

She scanned it for the first picture.

"I don't remember this picture. Where did you get this picture?"

"I cropped it - this was the full picture." (Handed her the original because it's still sitting on my desk. Don't judge me. I'm just a weird clumsy bookish forest fairy. What do you want?)

"Oh, my God, would you look at that? That's our old house on Cinema Lane. And look at that chair she's sitting in. (to my Dad) Did you make that chair? Someone made that chair. Oh, would you look at that? That's our old umbrella stand. Remember when we saw that big bug in the umbrella stand? Oh, our good old umbrella stand."

She shook her head and smiled, clearly reminiscing about all the the good memories that picture of her umbrella stand brought back.

She scanned the rest of it, stopping periodically to talk to my father about my children, about her friends, about her old furniture.

Then she got to the comments.

"Who are these people?"

"You don't know them."

"How do you know them?"

"Most of them have blogs too. They read what I have to say. I read what they have to say. We support each other. It's nice."

"People you don't know read what you write?"

"Yes."

"That's very good, Tammy! Look what these people said!"

She actually read all of the comments very carefully, after just scanning the body. The heartfelt sentimental body that I had written for her didn't matter nearly as much as what other people had to say about it.

It has always been this way.

I had to laugh, because it really was in keeping with the post. She will never 'get' me. And that's ok, I guess. Laugh or cry, my friends, laugh or cry. (I've done both, thanks for asking.)

I listened extra hard tonight when my children wanted to tell me about their day. I don't ever want them to feel less endearing than an old umbrella stand.

Sigh.

Good old umbrella stand.

13 comments:

Gibby said...

I am laughing right now, one because I spurted out my coffee when I saw my name, and two, my mom is SO similar!! My dad has been reading my blog for a while now, and always talks to me about what I have written. My mom finally succumbed to the pressure and recently started reading it, and she will email me NOT about what I have written, but about this commenter or that one.

Sigh. At least she is reading, right?

Glad you showed that beautiful post to your mom. I am sure she appreciated it, regardless of what she said out loud!

3 Bay B Chicks said...

I loved this post, Tammy. So different to read about how someone reacted to one of your posts in real life....especially your Mom.

It is funny, isn't it? The people who know us best in life can't always relate to what we write in the blogosphere.

Great post!

-Francesca

Macey said...

I think there is something up with blogspot for sure! It looks like you haven't posted anything new in 2 days! Good thing I come to your site to check it out and don't believe what blogspot tells me.
This post? Your mother's day post? Beautiful!
Macey

Macey said...

I just read your comment on my blog. You are so freckling funny, my dear. For some reason, it took me a second or ten to get the word play on that one. I'm....a....little....slow.
From now on freckles is my new "f" word. Ha!
Macey

mommakin said...

Freckles is my new 'F' word too (for reference, skip on over to MiMi's blog). I swear, I've said it six times today.

Housewife Savant said...

Tammy holy crap! I missed your MD post and read it now.
Stuff came out, like luaghing and tears and I felt a little warm sensation in my chest that was not real snarky and kinda nice.
I LOVE the way you write. (Should I go on facebook and tell you again?)

Too bad I missed the post on Mother's Day.
Too bad for your Mom especially cuz she missed my comment, "Hey Tammy's Mom ; pull your head outta your tuckuss. Your daughter is cool.
Coolness was an issue with our generation, and Tammy has a buttload of it and she didn't compromise to get it."

Macey said...

I think it's working now! It updated on my dashboard. Hey! Looks like you have another follower....miss popular!
Macey

Unknown said...

I think it is interesting when we share what we write with those that are included, such as your mom. My mom would not get it at all, she would likely find fault with my assessment of our relationship and my youth. Now I love my mom, so much, but perfect she is not. But today, I'm not sharing that with her.
Take care, I love your blog!

Mama-Face said...

Now I get you; a weird clumsy bookish forest fairy. Takes one to know one. Except for the forest fairy part; there are so many possibilities with that one...

I guess we all feel like umbrella stands at some point. Sometimes I wish I were an actual umbrella stand. I am pretty sure I would feel less guilty about the way I treat my mom and/or children if I just stood inanimate in a corner. Come to think of it, that describes me pretty much in a nutshell.

I've told my mom how to get to our family blog (not my crazy person one) a thousand times, and I don't know if she really can't do it or just doesn't care to try.

Whoa, my blood sugar must be nose diving. Sorry about the rambling. BTW, your post was way awesome.

Linda said...

I'm sorry that your mom doesn't get you because so many of us do! I love your writing style and read every word. Mom is really missing out.

mommakin said...

Aw, you guys are makin' me so happy... My peeps... :-)

Alex the Girl said...

I'm always so late! My sister has been down here a visiting. Tammy, your mom is right, you write so well. It's not like reading someone's blog, but more like reading. Does that make sense? I've been living w/my mom due to our hurricane homeless situation while repairing for the past six months, and it's done some serious damage to our relationship. After reading your MD post, I can only hope I can repair our relationship like we're repairing our house. Ah, the good guilt I'm getting while reading your mom blogs.

Pam said...

What a shame that your mom couldn't look past the "fluff" to see the heart of your message. I'm glad that you took it all in stride. Like you said in your Mother's Day post - you'll make it work!