What is it about greeting cards that get mothers all excited? I usually get my mom a gift for Mother's Day, but this year was a bit different. I'm from a large family, so we usually end up at my mom's house for Mother's Day with some sort of meal plans worked out and a multitude of flower arrangements and candy. Somehow, this year it was my turn to make all the plans.
Plan A was a barbeque. My mom has a nice yard and between several of us adult kids, we could bring enough food to feed an army (namely, my siblings and their kids), so that would be fine. One mother, however, single-handedly ruined Plan A.
Mother Nature decided to drop the thermometer to mid 40s and throw in torrential morning showers along with gale-force winds. Plan A went bye-bye.
Plan B was carry-out dinner. Chinese food? My mom really likes this local restaurant, but NOOOO! my oldest brother (the Vietnam war veteran) won't eat any food with rice, so Plan B, part II. Fried chicken and italian beef.
I bought a TON of chicken, beef, macaroni salad, baked beans plus a cake that I made (did I mention I'm from a large family?) and mom was pleased that she didn't have to do anything except sit back and enjoy the spread.
Oh, back to the greeting cards. Every year when I give my mom a Mother's Day gift, she asks 'where's the card?' And I'm thinking, 'hello! you KNOW who it's from. I'm standing right here!' Silly me! I'm thinking that cards are little devices used to identify the gift-giver, but I'm so niave. It's much more than that.
I've decided that all mothers have a little contest going to see who can collect the most cards. It's kinda weird because my mom will get Mother's Day cards from people who are not her genetic offspring. What's that about??
Anyway, between her NINE children and countless other hangers-on, my mother has a fireplace mantletop FULL of cards! Probably 12-15 cards, but I don't think mine will go up there...at least unless my siblings have stopped reading them.
(my card) "Happy Mother's Day from the child that you are always very proud of..."
(inside) 'of course, the other kids set the bar pretty low.'
Happy Mom's Day!
