Roses For Mama-2010

I don't remember when I read this story, but it was a LOONNNG time ago. Probably in an advice column like Anne Landers or Dear Abby. The column was probably the idea behind a long forgotten C.W. McCall song, "Roses For Mama".

The advice was this. When its your birthday, rather than getting presents, you should give flowers to your mom. Maybe its out of date in 2010. It seemed like a great idea at the time. The idea was one my younger brother relentlessly executed every single March 12.

March 12 would come along. There would be the flowers. And not just a small bouquet of flowers. A rose for every year of his life. That's a hefty bill in your 20's. In your 30's, well I could only imagine my brother saving his quarters to afford to give mom her flowers.

I was stuck with promising myself to remember to keep up. I was the oldest. I was the one that should set the example for my siblings. And I had 4 more flowers I needed to provide each year.

December was always a little more expensive time for flowers. There was the holiday of course. And Mom's birthday was a couple of days before Christmas, so the flowers got set aside as many times as they were bought and delivered.

Mom never seemed to mind. She wasn't a touchy, feely, huggy Mom anyway. And it all seemed OK.

Every year on December 1, I remember the flowers. There are a lot more than 30 these days.

I just wish she was still here so I could hand them to her.

I love you, Mom.