Lily was not very happy with her flamingo Halloween costume. Connor and Emma seemed not to notice!
I often see glimpses of my mother in myself these days. Something I do or say sounds just like her. I think of things she did when I was a child and realize I did some of those same things when my children were growing up. Things I saw her do decades ago and thought were ridiculous or eccentric, have found their way into my modern life.
My mother was a fun-loving, beautiful person and we lost her to Alzheimer’s disease three years ago. Now, I see more and more that I am becoming a lot like her, and it makes me miss her even more than ever.
Winter holidays
I was watching my grandchildren run and play in the icy cold weather outside recently and found myself reflecting on the past few months. New Year’s Day breezed in quietly for us and we began to settle back into a semi-normal routine. Christmas holidays were a blur, filled with activities, visiting, shopping, wrapping, baking, visiting Santa, enjoying the Children’s Museum, and running any number of last minute errands.
My mind kept reaching back into my memory bank to Thanksgiving when my septic tank overflowed just 30 minutes before the turkey was to be pulled from the oven in a brilliant display of succulent goodness – bringing that day to a temporary yet screeching halt!
Fall memories
And then, as I sipped my coffee, I somehow found myself delving further into my treasured memories, all the way back to Halloween when the grandchildren were so wired with excitement, they could hardly stand it. And that’s when it hit me. Maybe I don’t do things the way my daughters do today, and perhaps I have a lot of idiosyncrasies as I get older.
It made me think about some of the things I did as a young mother that might seem ridiculous today. And, I thought about how many times my daughters have affirmed that for me with comments like, “I can’t believe you dressed me in that outfit and took me out in public!” or, “What were you thinking when you decided that was a good idea?”
That’s when it really hit me! Halloween 2010.
The year my precious little 15-month old granddaughter was dressed like a flamingo! Yes, a full-blown, overly flamboyant, gaudy, pink feathered flamingo (see photo for full effects here!).
Emma tries to distract Lily so she doesn't notice her feathers.
Not only was she dressed in full costume (and DID look precious), she was paraded before the neighbors during an outdoor cook-out for all to see. She pulled at her costume, puffed at the feathers around her face, and looked down at her fluffy body with disbelief — and even tears in her eyes.
I’ve become my mother
I laughed quietly to myself at the memory.
I think I’ll ask my daughter one day, “What were you thinking when you decided that flamingo costume was a good idea last Halloween?”
And I’m sure her daughter will ask her that one day too.
For all of you daughters out there, be careful when you laugh at the crazy things your mother did or made you wear when you were younger. You will become your mother one day – and maybe sooner than you think!
For me, that’s not such a bad thing.
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