On my way to the optometrist this morning, I saw a bumper sticker so funny that I literally did laugh out loud-- and loudly. It startled me (and made my day), because it sounded exactly like my mom's laugh. That wouldn't be a surprise to anyone who knows us both (though the cackling-in-stereo is unnerving to the uninitiated). She has a fabulous sense of humor, and an incredible ability to find humor hidden in unexpected places. I remember one summer car ride with my mom and my husband-- she and I had invented a game that had us roaring, and poor Dave had no idea what was going on.
I think people believe that estrangement means absence of affection, respect, wonder, admiration, love. In my experience, that's not true at all; I still feel those things for my mom. It's more like taking shelter in a storm, while longing and praying for clear skies.
Meditation on This Sunday's Gospel
5 hours ago
I love this! My sister called me in Sacramento from San Diego for help on a writing assignment. We used to tease our mom and aunts for their long distance, sound-alike cackling, but a couplet comparing my sister's three-legged dog to Jesus sent us into our own fits. Funnier because we both heard our mom and aunts in ourselves. Laughing about laughing is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool ray of sunshine this morning!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful analogy. I hope that those clear skies come sooner than later. If not, at least you have the memory of laughter!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, dear one. My relationship with my brother was a little like that. I always loved him.
ReplyDeleteMB, I think you understand.
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