I love trouble

My mother was goofy and fun loving. She laughed alot and she was so playful. She energized the room with her impulsiveness and good will and spiritedness. As kids we used to stand on our heads against the wall in the living room and see how long we could stay there. Of course, mom would be the instigator and us girls would take over the competition. The play would morph into some other active play, usually outside. By them mom was off doing something else - sewing or cooking. I wonder if she knew this would lead to alone time for her. If so, it was a pretty good strategy. Mom had lots of physical energy. Too much energy. Sometimes it got her into trouble.

When you read this, picture a cross between Lucille Ball and Erma Bombeck:

My mom was in the waiting room at the doctor's office. She had been waiting quite awhile- the waiting room was full. And she was sitting with her legs crossed. The nurse called her name. She stood up, took a step, and fell. (Her leg had fallen asleep). The nurse waited patiently for her. Mom got up, took another step, and fell again. This happened a few more times until she made it into the exam room. Afterwards, when she told us about this my sister asked her 'Mom, you were at a doctors office. Why didn't you ask for help?' Mom replied, 'I didn't think anyone noticed!'

Another Lucille Ball moment: We lived in the suburbs, not far away from our local high school. After school the kids would 'cut through' our back yard, tossing their cigarette butts in our garden. This irritated mom to no end. One afternoon she was so angry that she went outside and flipped off these kids. They looked at her quizzically and kept walking. She was proud of herself and told us about it when we got home from school. She told us, 'I went like this to them - (demonstrating a thumbs up sign!)'. My older sister corrected her on how to flip someone off. My mom laughed her head off at her own naivete. Plus we wondered what those kids thought when mom gave them a 'thumbs up' sign.

I miss my mom's laugh and her energy and her antics. I didn't inherit her musical talent but I inherited her spiritedness and love of laughter. I've had many Lucille Ball moments myself. So has my oldest sister. But that's for another blog. I'll probably title it 'Lucy and Ethel go Christmas shopping'.

Mom, I miss laughing with you.