I Remember, Mom (1921-2009)

You letting us dunk our cookies in our glasses of milk at the kitchen table.

You laughing as you watched us lick the sweetness from our Oreo cookies.

You letting us help bake cookies, especially peanut butter ones.

You giving us the eye, when we pushed elbows away from our table space.

The feast we had when you came home with Chinese Food from Dick Woo’s.

You shaking your head when we melted our plastic toys on the hallway grill.

You running from a spider after you chased it down the hallway.

Hearing you scream when you realized I had two live pike in the bathtub.

Your smile when I put neighbourhood cats in our basement to chase mice.

You saying “Run!” after lighting the new oil stove, hoping it wouldn’t explode.

Your shock when you found out our gerbil made a nest in the collar of your coat.

The yummy sandwiches you made when we went to Moose Bay Beach.

All of us sitting around the living room listening to Boston Blackie on the radio.

All of us cuddling up on the couch watching our TV for the first time (I was 13)

You sprinking Holy Water in each of the rooms during a thunderstorm.

(All good memories as we send you many hugs)

© Richard L. Provencher