C'est La Fête des Meres quelque part. Somewhere, it's Mothers Day (Just not in France)
Sunday, May 13, 2018
My precious Mom usually puts on her makeup lying down. In a pinch, she'll do things the conventional way. What I love about this picture are all the familiar items: her fish purse, her Panama hat, her compact mirror....
Something you don't know about me: I am (superstitious is not the word) very disciplined about not working or writing on Sunday. For me, it is a day to honor God (or Mom. And by that I mean "God or Mom" and not "God, or Mom"-- an absence of a comma in the first instance is used to distinguish the difference between the two (for some people there is no difference between the two). To me, most definitely there is! Read on, in today's letter to Mom.
Your feet resting on the open door of the oven (turned down low, warmth in an Arizona winter) you'd put down your racy book or The Bible and pause to tell us the story about Heidi and me looking down from the clouds and choosing our parents (we even chose different Dads!). This has always been a favorite story of mine, one I tell your grandchildren. But I know, deep down, it was God who chose YOU for us, and for good reason: you have shared your faith with us, and this faith is our anchor, our sustenance--our very espoir!
This is the biggest gift of all and you are the conduit. That makes you a direct pipeline to Heaven! But there must be a more poetic image for such a loving connection: It is your Motherly arms holding us whilst God is holding you.
No matter how far away you are you are still protecting us. Though you had a broken tin roof over your own head for the past two years, you managed to keep a solid roof over our heads. One day we will write that story together, you, me, and Heidi, and share it with the world. Ceci c'est un début.
Love,
Kristi
P.S. After posting yesterday's essay, several people said, including my Dad, that the woman in the story, the person I most longed to be, is you.
* * *
Happy Mothers Day to all who celebrate, including my dear Belle-Mère Marsha, in Seattle today--and Lynn-Lynn too (I've a few Belle-Mères up my sleeve!). We are especially thinking Michéle-France, my belle-mère extraordinaire.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
seuleument = only
la soeurette = little sister, kid sister, little sis
l'espoir (m) = hope
ceci est un début = this is a beginning
la foi = faith
la tienne = yours
la belle-mère = mother-in-law, also means stepmother
A favorite picture of my fearless Mom (I know, I know, you don't capitalize "mom" in that last sentence. Here's a bumper sticker for those grammar sticklers--tack it on the back of your car (my own rides a motorcycle or a horse): "M" for Mom, period!
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Lovely Kristi! Happy Mother's Day! :-)
Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 01:43 PM
What a lovely tribute to your mother, Kristi! I hope and pray for your reunion. My mother passed in July 2014
and I often think of her and her gifts to me, my two sisters, and my father. She was very self-effacing and always encouraged each of us to go forward with our lives, being and doing our very best. Happy Mother’s
Day!
Posted by: Joanne | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 02:42 PM
Such a beautiful letter and tribute to your Mom on Mother’s Day! Such a gorgeous rebel, with a bright, wide eyes open love of life! She should be everyone’s Mom (with a capital M)! Happy Mother’s Day to you, too. Must be so joyous to have two such wonderful ‘children’ growing to be even more fantastic adults! Enjoy your day!!
Posted by: Judi in Lake Balboa | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 02:46 PM
Happy Mother’s Day Kristi and chère Jules.
Bonne journée à tous. xoxox
Posted by: Cindy McDonald | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 02:56 PM
Happy Mother’s Day to U Kristi and to all the Mothers out there! I love your mother's’ zest for life, fearlessness, and her ability to seize the day!
Posted by: Faye lafleur | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 03:26 PM
Happy Mother’s Day!
My mother died last October and I am taking my aunt’s advice to heart:
“You’ll feel like yourself again in about two years.”
I don’t feel morbid. It’s just that that’s how much we are entwined, and that is the price of loving someone.
She was lucky to be able to live as long as she possibly could and die mentally sharp, feeling well-loved as she reflected on her relationships with her parents, husband, friends, and daughter. She also lived in her own home, which was nourishing for her.
Posted by: Leslie NYC | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 03:57 PM
Tears.
Posted by: Susie | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 03:58 PM
I'm thinking of both Michele-France and my mom today. My love to you and Jean-Marc. My mom so enjoyed visiting with you. I love Jules' dress in the first picture. She always looks fabulous.
Posted by: Suzanne | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 04:08 PM
Happy Mothers’Day, Kristi! Your letter to your mom is beautiful and better than any other gift or card you might have sent to her. Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
Posted by: Geraldine Ventura | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 04:42 PM
What a beautiful tribute full of love to Jules!
I wish you both a wonderful Mother's Day Kristi!
Posted by: Deborah Z | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 04:58 PM
C’est tellement beau ce que tu as écrit, chère Kristi! xox
Posted by: Patti | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 05:04 PM
Happy Mothers Day to you and your Mom. Thank you for sharing this beautiful letter. You touch my heart.
Posted by: Nancy | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 05:23 PM
That was beautiful!
Happy Mother's Day to you and to Jules!
Sending lots of love to you both!
Posted by: Karen Cafarella | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 05:28 PM
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU AND JULES! Both of you are women of great courage and strength of purpose. The love and affection you have for your families is never ending and without any conditions! I wish there were more ladies like you in this world.... Have a super wonderful day! Judi Dunn, Tallahassee, Fl.
Posted by: Judith Dunn | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 05:43 PM
Kristi,
Happy Mothers Day to you and your Mom. Mothers have the God-given responsibility of bringing new beings into the world. We wouldn't be here without you all. Thank you and God bless you.
My mother raised me by herself and she is 92 and lives with me. She is my Best Friend.
Have a beautiful day,
Jivago
Posted by: Jivago | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 05:59 PM
Happy Mother’s Day Kristi. And thank you for this lovely post. I miss my mom too but she’s been gone for two years now. You and your mom are always inspiring to me in your wonderful stories. Merci! 🌹🌹🌹♥️
Posted by: Cate Salenger | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 06:10 PM
Happy Mothera Day...and every day. Each day is a gift...the present !
Posted by: Jan | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 06:55 PM
Our dear Kristi,
This beautiful tribute to dear Jules just wraps us in hugs!
We celebrate you both(and your wondetful families) and thank you for the gift of being in our lives.
I lost my beloved Mama in 1967;she was only 52(I was 20).
There is not a day that passes that I stop thanking God for the love we shared and the grace of having her as mine.
My arms are around you both.
Love
Natalia. Xo
Posted by: Natalia | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 08:04 PM
To Carolyn Chase for last weeks post. « When I Am Old » has always been a favorite of mine. Thank you for that as sometimes I forget. We are always so busy trying to « do it right » and living up to societal norms & mores...how boring g is that! And then we miss it....what life is really about, I mean...let us all enjoy & be us NOW!!!
Posted by: Faye lafleur | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 08:37 PM
Hi, Christy,
Thank you for sharing your faith. I celebrate my mother's life today. I had her for 22 years. She has been amazing in my life, even at age 65. I am grateful for people like you who love God and are following in the footsteps of godly parents! Bless you!
Posted by: Lindy | Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 10:44 PM
Happy Mother's Day, Kristi and Jules!
I read your post with envy and alienation, so I'm adding an acknowledgment for those of us who had different experiences with our mothers . . . mothers who were self-absorbed and harshly critical, for example. Without an appealing model of womanhood or motherhood, we raised ourselves with the help of our therapists and friends. Happy Mother's Day to us, the self-mothers!
Posted by: Maureen McCormick | Monday, May 14, 2018 at 12:24 AM
Dear Kristi,
Your post today as so lovely. My mom and I were not close. She was just 20 when I was born. I was the first-born of four. I don't think we ever understood each other. She sometimes made me very sad. She could be very critical and could dash my hopes and dreams. But I loved her. She died in 1995. I am now 3 years older than when she died. I do miss her and wish we would have had a better and more understanding relationship. Maybe now had she lived,
we would have gotten closer. Who knows.
Your mom, Jules, is an exceptional person. Really. I had a sister, Heidi who died at 54.
Posted by: Sheryl westenberger wells | Monday, May 14, 2018 at 02:44 AM
Happy Mother's Day a day late, but it should be every day. You have a great relationship with Jules, and as Maureen stated, not everyone has such a fantastic relationship with their moms.Hope you enjoyed the day.
Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen | Monday, May 14, 2018 at 02:49 AM
So who is the cute chauffeur for your beautiful mom?
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | Monday, May 14, 2018 at 08:25 AM
Happy Mother's Day a little late. I didn't feel comfortable writing because I was never able to have children and didn't live with my mother until I was a teenager and only as a babysitter for my four younger step brothers. She was a loving woman but not to me. Your relationship with your mom is inspiring and your letter to her a wonderful testament to it! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Caroline | Monday, May 14, 2018 at 05:02 PM
I didn't get to read this until Tuesday morning in NZ. Kristi, I, too, spent Mother's Day with a deep pang in my heart. It's not easy to be away from our loved ones, and it's rare that one can find the words to express all that they mean to us. Yet, it seems those perfect words have found you. I have always admired your relationship with Jules and I wish you both all the joy in the world!
Posted by: Katia | Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 03:00 AM