Another wake. Another friend who has lost a parent. Nobody told me that when I turned 50 I should start stocking up on get well and sympathy cards. Both of my parents have passed away, so I feel a kinship with all of my friends as their parents, one by one, get to that age where time is just not on their side anymore. "It is a part of life" I tell myself. "They lived a long time," they're better off now." All of these things are true, but what's also true is as the generation before me moves on, I can't be a child anymore. Mom's pies and dad's jokes are gone. Having someone to call who will just say "it will be alright" is gone. I am now that "go to" person.
So, I teach my sons how to make my famous chocolate chip cookies, and I buy my future daughter-in-law things I wish I had when I started out as a young bride. I freely give unsolicited advice on loving well and what a woman wants from her husband. I am suddenly way too concerned about the weather forecast and have a favorite weatherman. I even sneak a peak at Wheel of Fortune now and again. I haven't started watching Law and Order reruns yet. But it's only a matter of time.
I become to my adult children who our mothers were to us. Strong, opinionated, meddling, doting, loving. It's an unexpected joy and an unexpected sadness. I think I'll see what movie is on the Hallmark channel. . . .
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