A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE

      The Micro Manager decided to go to a Chinese Buffet for Mother's Day.

      Well , this suited me because I like Chinese food.  

     This city has three Chinese Buffets. The oldest one has seen better days but to our experience was the best of the three. One of the buffets is smaller with less variety. We tried the newest buffet about five years ago and it was awful. Recently Joe  and Nancy said the new one was very good.

    So we went to the old stand by. We looked at the price for seniors. The regular price was covered up with a piece of card board and Mother's Day prices shown.  As far as we could tell they raised the price $5.00 for Mother's Day. We thought that maybe since were at the restaurant that we should eat . A minute later I said, "I'm not eating here when they raise the price that much for Mother's Day."

    So off we went and decided to go across the street to the latest buffet that had been terrible. Here , they raised the price  dollar but were open about it. The place was busy and noisy. Good sign. People were having fun. 

    We were completely surprised to find that the restaurant that we had terrible experience with was absolutely fantastic. Great food! They had extra items like large shrimp, roast turkey, roast beef and a few other extras.

   So since the other restaurant was so devious, they've lost a couple of customers.

    Now most of the time I would not have walked out of a restaurant, but this time it was a matter of principle. Don't try to rip the customers off on Mother's Day.

MOTHER'S DAY BRINGS MEMORIES

      Mother's day brings lots of greetings to Mom's and an expression of appreciation of all that Moms do. It's a day to stop and consider how much Moms do for us. Some people just give a greeting and some have a lavish celebration. Sadly some don't mark the occasion at all.

     Well, some of us elderly people have our memories jogged and we think of our mothers of long ago. We can  not wish them a happy Mother's Day but we can think back to all that our Mothers did for us.

    I like to remember back to the time before I was born. Well, I can't really do that but I can certainly put many things together and then realize how much my Mom did for me.

    First, there was lots of excellent food but no money. Mom had gone through the depression as a young person and the issue was to survive. Mom's house was very poor. In the winter the house froze out over night. I was kept snug and warm, but I can easily realize how hard it was to raise a small child under those conditions. 

    These memories or the research make me appreciate all that was done for me under extenuating circumstances.

    Mom died in 1973 before she turned 60. 

     Mom with my son when he was about 2 months old.

A Special Day

     Sometimes I go looking for a special day for a post topic. Today that day is ready made and I don't have to do any looking.

    So Mother's Day...one of the more meaningful of the special days.

     So Happy Mother's Day to the special bloggers I follow who are Moms. I was once asked why so many of the blogs I follow are written by women. Well, today gives one of the reasons. Most of the women bloggers I follow are Moms.

     I can also take time to remember my Mom. My Mom had super challenges in her life. She was a young person in the 1930's and was married in 1938.  Now the really hard part happens. She had four children in five years. She had to live in a very small house with absolutely no conveniences...electricity, running water ...nothing. I can't imagine doing washing for a family without a power washer. To sum it up Mom put up with very challenging times.

    Later on Mom lost her only daughter.

    Mom left us all too early at age 59. It was awful to watch cancer take her.

    Next week Mom would be 102!

    So Happy Mother's Day to all my followers who are Moms. You're the greatest.

Mom about 1920

Family photo 1966

1969 with my son

More Mother's Day

     In this post I want to cover two things related to  Mother's Day. 

     I wanted to ask a question about Mother's Day instead of posting about Mothers. I thought it wouldn't be cool to get off topic so I omitted this idea. So here it comes. When I was a child in the 1940's and 50's, I don't remember a major observance of Mother's Day. I knew about Mother's Day but we did nothing about it. I think we made cards in school for our mothers but that's all. So am I right that we put much more stress on Mother's Day today?

     Now some comments in my previous post require some response. Some people commented that I am nice (thanks) and my mothers have been an influence. This is very true. My mother worked under extenuating circumstances to get some sense into our heads.  I  must admit that it took a long time for my mother's influence to emerge in my life. I was a little square peg. I didn't fit well. Sometimes I was very frustrated. The world of the 40's and 50's was very black and white. I didn't see a black and white world. I envisioned a society where all worked together. Again , frustration was added to my life. 

     I was rebellious , but I hope not in an offensive way. When I finished I high school I left home. I still didn't like to see extreme views that excluded others but I didn't know what to do about it..

     It wasn't until my 40's that I got things together and realized that the square peg could lead a very satisfactory and successful life without bending to the extremes. My life changed.

     In teaching, there were many little people with tears and the least I could do would be to not offend any more. So showing some empathy to those hurting got lots of practice. I learned that you couldn't ignore those who need comfort and support. Empathizing and supporting people carried over to my adult life. Personal growth took place. I was rewarded with the satisfaction of helping others. I was open to listening to people in a nonjudgmental way. 

     So I learned things from my Mom but it took a long time to sink in and practise in my daily life.

A Time of Remembrance: Mothers' Day

      I'm one of those people who had two Moms , my Mom and my step Mom. My Mom passed away at age 59. I had my Mom for about 35 years. My step Mom passed away in 2005. I had her for 30 years. 

      Although both women were very different when it came to personality, they were both good Moms for the times they had us. My Mom was an influence, guide and support for my younger life. My step Mom was a very astute lady when it came to dealing with adult children.

      So it's a time of remembrance when I look back and take time to appreciate what was done for me and how I was influenced to be what I am today. 

      Tomorrow, I will be celebrating with my wife and remembering the huge contribution she made to our children's lives.

     I also thank and remember my grand children's mother.

     So Happy Mother's Day to the active Mom's in my family and thanks for the good times and memories of my Mom and step Mom.

     My Mom in 1964 with her first grandchild.

Happy Mothers' Day

       Happy Mothers' Day to all Moms and in particular those Moms who follow my blog. On this day I hope you find appreciation, admiration and love from those you care so much about. I also hope a few treats and kind treatment are thrown in to your day. 


      I am fortunate to have had two Moms. I had my Mom for 34 years and one month. I had my step mom for 30 years and 5 months so it was close to 65 years. I can say that I was fortunate.


     My Mom was born in 1914 and died in 1973 at age 59. My Mom had a very hard life as she married a farmer and she was not from the farm. The farm was primitive so water came from rain barrels in the summer and blocks of snow which melted in a barrel beside the stove in the winter. Clothes washing was a difficult and long chore. The little house they had was cold. To complicate matters she had three children in two years and two months. There are many things my Mom did for us because she loved us . Mom usually read to us before we went to bed. The four of us would snuggle into the bed and be completely engrossed  in the story she read. When she was finished we went off to bed. My interest in birds comes from my Mom. Yes, she got angry once in a while and freaked out but then most people do. My Mom cared very much about us after we left the house. When she got daughter in laws she welcomed them to her family and was proud of them. Grand children were a bonus to her. 


    I got my step mom in 1975 and she died in 2005. We were adults when we met her and had an adult relationship with her. She did care for us and welcomed the grand children. She was very astute as when my Dad was nearing nursing care she talked to his four sons and had us on her side. Then she could say to my Dad, "The boys say..." It worked like a charm.


    So I feel fortunate that I had two Moms who first of all put up with me and also loved and cared about me.