Ballet with Mom

When I was a kid, probably about 12 or so, my mom decided to get season tickets to the ballet. I'm sure she thought with three girls on her hands, she'd have no problem getting one to go with her every couple months.

Well, when the first show came around, there wasn't as much interest as she thought there'd be. "Who wants to go to the ballet with me this Saturday?" Mom asked. After a few moments filled only with crickets, I decided, what the heck? "I'll go!"

Late Saturday morning Mom and I got dressed up in our nice clothes and headed up to downtown Salt Lake to see our first ballet at the Capitol Theatre. You can't go see a show on an empty stomach so we decided to hit up a little deli tucked away in the alley next to the theatre. Sitting at a tall round table on a black and white checkered floor, Mom and I ate our cream soup and sandwiches and talked about the upcoming show. I felt so important and grown up. Just me and Mom out on the town.

Once inside the theatre we found our seats. I remember sitting there listening to the orchestra warm up while looking at all the little old ladies with their grey hair perfectly curled and hair sprayed  into q-tip-like poofs. I flipped through the program reading the story line and all the names of the dancers and producers. Then the lights went down and the curtains opened.

For an hour or two Mom and I sat and watched while the dancers twirled and leaped on the stage. I admired their costumes-- their flexibility, grace, and strength. My sisters had no idea what they were missing out on.

Lucky for me my sisters never showed an interest in going to the ballet. Of course I never told them how fun it really was. The ballet turned out to be a thing just my mom and I did together. Every couple months we'd head back to that same tucked away deli with the black and white checked floor to eat lunch before the show. The shows ranged from humorous to sad to just plain awe inspiring and I loved each one of them. And who could forget all the little old ladies with their q-tip hair?

I haven't been back to see a ballet since I was a kid. And the little deli is no longer there. But I still remember those great times with just Mom and me. She always made me feel special and I remember that the most.

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words (Or Maybe Something Like 200)

Not only did we celebrate Mother's Day last week, but it was also my mom's birthday (yeah she got ripped off with that one). We always try to make the celebration big enough to incorporate both occasions, though I guess Mom would have to be the judge as to whether we succeed or not. I think we did pretty good this year! (My computer isn't cooperating so I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking).

Happy Birthday Mom! We love you!

You Look Just Like Your Mother

That's the line I've heard from friends and strangers alike my entire life. I always saw it as compliment and a secret one-up on my sisters. At least I looked like I belonged to the family. For all anybody else knew, they could be the mailman's kids or cousins visiting from Novascotia.

It's so funny to see so much of yourself in someone else. I think of my mom whenever I look at my pasty white legs or my poochy belly or my ski-jump nose. I even occasionally catch myself displaying her mannerisms like putting my hand on my hip when I brush my teeth or sighing a lot.

Today as I was trying to jog my brain and think of my favorite memories of Mom, I realized one thing: my mother showed she loved us by her generosity and service. All the memories I could think of were of my mom serving us in some way... making Sunday dinner, driving the carpool, taking us to doctor and dentist appointments, going to dance recitals and band recitals. She is always taking us out to eat and volunteering to do this or that... no matter how much of a pain and hassle it would be to her. She's always done a lot of the hard work and boring things so the rest of us could have fun. Looking back I finally realize how much she has sacrificed for her family. How much she does for us without much in return but a "Thanks, Mom."

The memories that stick with me most about Mom were from our one-on-one time. Back in my college days, we used to go out to lunch together at least once a week. I think we had a go-out-to-lunch day. It was back in my dating hey-days and I'd tell her all about my boy troubles and she'd listen to me and give me motherly advice. I think I kept my sanity because of her. I'm sure she just laughed to herself about all the dumb things I worried about. Listening to a young twentyish-year old girl that much should bump her up to sainthood. Not that she needed another reason to be considered for the position. She probably qualified for that over twenty years ago.

I want everyone to know how much I love and admire my mom. She's an incredibly smart, talented, loving person and I hope I can always make her proud to say she's my mom.

I stole this picture from my mom's Facebook page... I think it's actually a good picture of her. I'm pretty sure she took it with a webcam which always makes me smile for some reason. Not as professional as some of the other pics of her... but this one is more Mom.