Bless you, bless you bumblebee

When I think of you, Mom, that little poem you used to say when we sneezed always comes to mind. I always thought it was a cool little poem. And we heard often as we all sneezed a lot.

Bless you, bless you bumblebee
Say, when will your wedding be?
If it is tomorrow day
Take your wings and fly away

I don't think it had much to do with sneezes. But I still liked it anyway.

Most mothers and daughters go through a rift and we were no different. Honestly, you were probably more patient than I deserved. Remember that time after I didn't have a curfew anymore right after I graduated from high school when I came home at 2:30 in the morning? Then for some reason the next night at the dinner table I lied and said I was home at 1 a.m. because 1 a.m. sounds a whole lot better than 2:30 a.m. and you shamed me by announcing how much you trust me even though you knew I came in at 2:30 a.m. Yeah? Remember that? Because I was amazed you actually knew what time I came in since for the prior several years I had to wake you up to announce my arrival home before curfew. Actually, I appreciate that you did trust me. I didn't deserve that trust but I do appreciate it none the less.

Remember after Dad left? I barely do. But I do remember how extremely sad you were. And the sister and I tried to cheer you up. By the way, I'm sorry that the picture we drew on the wall in the closet didn't really make you happy. Or the one on the ceiling. Now that I'm older I see the tremendous inner strength you had then.

And I appreciate that you never talked bad about Dad. He deserved some negative coverage but you just wouldn't go there. And when he became sick with cancer, you were there to assure us that all would be OK. I remember that day, two days after Christmas, when you woke us (the sister and I) up to let us know that even though we wouldn't have our Dad anymore, he wouldn't be suffering. Even my young, junior high brain knew you were strong to be able to talk to us at all about Dad.

But your strength shouldn't have surprised me. You grew up on a farm although I'm not sure you realized you were living on a farm given your girly, girl ways with a mother who was strong. I always loved the story of how you overheard the adults talking about the mice problem then you went to play under the house and discovered a little nest of kittens. Thinking they were mice, you snapped each of their little necks. And people wondered why I obeyed you. Hmph! I knew you could snap a neck if needed.

Once you told me that you worried that you yelled at us too much when the sister and I were growing up. I don't remember much yelling but I'm sure the sister and I deserved some yelling at because I'd definitely yell at me if I could. I do remember a lot of laughing. And thanks to you, I appreciate the finer aspects of sarcasm.

Mom, thanks for being such a great mother! I love that you are my friend and my mother.

And bless you.