I Remember Mama

I remember Mama blowing chewing gum bubbles to entertain us while she ironed. I was too young for school Sesame Street wasn’t invented yet the rain was pouring outside and I was awed. I remember Mama sewing at her machine into the night when she had to get up early for work patching a favorite pair of cutoffs just one more time or putting pockets on pants because my little brother adored them and I still hear her words ‘There’s all kinds of ways to say I love you.’ I remember Mama teaching us that beauty on the inside was more important than on the outside. ‘A kind word to a stranger might be the only kind word that person heard all day’ ... and how good it felt finding out she was right. I remember Mama telling us to hold onto our dreams. Make them happen and never say ‘I can’t’ and how funny I thought it when she said the world was our watermelon and all we had to do was grab it and take a bite. I remember Mama who taught us best by example with her unconditional love. Love isn’t love until it’s given away and it’s in the giving that we know it truly does come back ten-fold. I remember, Mama.