Bleeding Espresso

13 May 2007

la festa della mamma

When I was in elementary school, our teachers planned a Mother’s Day Tea for 2 p.m. the Friday before the big day. Having been the ~~teacher’s pet~~ eloquent writer and speaker that I was in my preteen days, I was chosen to compose and deliver the welcoming address.

A huge honor, of course, but my mother was a nurse and worked the 3-11 shift; I knew she wouldn’t be able to make it.

But I wrote and edited and wrote and edited my little speech anyway because, well, other mothers would be there, and they deserved a good show too. Still when it came time to perform, I was nervous as I walked onto the stage, gripping my notecards for dear life.

Click click click said my shoes on the wooden floor–the only noises amidst complete silence.

Everyone was looking at me although I didn’t dare glance at them. I simply got really close to the microphone like they had told me to do, took a deep breath, and said, “Good morning.”

Finally I looked into the audience, and there she was.

My mom, front and center, beaming the smile that always comforted me. I delivered the rest of the welcome without so much as a stutter.

I still don’t really know the details of how she managed it, but I know I appreciated it–so much so that it made it into one of my college essays (and I got in!).

But only now as an adult, another part of the story sticks out to me: my mother doesn’t even drink tea.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom and to all mothers,
including those in Italy, as today is La Festa della Mamma here as well!
You make life amazing!

(You think it’s a coincidence that MOM upside down is WOW?)

—————

Technorati Tags: mother’s day, la festa della mamma, mothers, moms

23 beans of wisdom »

23 beans of wisdom to “la festa della mamma”

heather on 13 May 2007 at 1:27 pm #

This is really a great post!!! It made me smile.
Cherrye on 13 May 2007 at 1:59 pm #

I have a tear in my eye!!

Sweet post and good for your mom to make it!! You think she knew you’d remember that after all of these years??
AuthorMomWithDogs on 13 May 2007 at 2:14 pm #

Found you through your post on Scribbit. Love your writing. Adding you to my reader.

Yep, I’m a WOW to three kids. Thanks for the giggle.
Carole D. on 13 May 2007 at 3:19 pm #

Very touching post, brought tears to my eyes.

I’m a WOW to 2 kids in their early 20s who make me proud.

Auguri to all the present and future MOMS!
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 13 May 2007 at 3:44 pm #

Great post.

My mom was a pediatric nurse at Columbia-Presbyterian in NYC and also worked the 3-11 shift. Not a fun communte once we moved to the suburbs. I don’t know how she worked fulltime, cooked, raised 3 kids and kept a spotless house. My dad helped but let’s get real the backyard was more his thing.

I called her to say Happy Mother’s Day (it’s not celebrated today in St. Martin. I don’t know when the French celebrate it) and she of course insisted on calling me back, not wanted me to get hit with the long distance charges. Then she had to ask me about dating.

Moms are awesome (even when they get on your nerves sometimes) lol.
The Freelance Cynic on 13 May 2007 at 3:48 pm #

Wow! You’re mum is amazing Must of made your day
Giulia on 13 May 2007 at 4:21 pm #

Put a smile on my face too.
Bongga Mom on 13 May 2007 at 5:31 pm #

I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. What a beautiful story — you captured the essence of motherhood, right there. Happy Mothers Day to you and your wonderful mother!
bel ami on 13 May 2007 at 7:17 pm #

wunderschönen muttertag and thx for ur comment! :)) (’beautiful mothersday’) i really enjoy reading ur posts!
Rebecca on 13 May 2007 at 9:23 pm #

Mothers do have a way of always being able to “come through” - at least the good ones do!!! And obviously, you have a good one.
Shan on 13 May 2007 at 9:33 pm #

Beautiful post.
Heidi on 14 May 2007 at 4:45 am #

Oh, everything just sounds better in Italian!!! What a wonderful thing you Mom did - I hope I’ll be able to do those things.

Heidi
Kelli Estes on 14 May 2007 at 5:14 am #

You are blessed with a fabulous mom. I hope when my boys are old enough they’ll talk about me with so much love.

Beautiful post.
sognatrice on 14 May 2007 at 5:47 am #

Thanks for your comments everyone; it’s a testament to my mom that I was genuinely surprised to read that this (to me) run-of-the-mill childhood memory touched so many of you.

NYC, thanks for the laugh
Peabody on 14 May 2007 at 7:52 am #

What a sweet story about your Mom.
Vanessa on 14 May 2007 at 10:48 am #

awww… what a sweet surprise she gave you!
bet she was tickled pink to read this too
Vx
cheeky on 14 May 2007 at 7:05 pm #

Loved this. Moms are able to leap over small buildings, including piles of laundry, change the unchangeable, do the “what seems impossible” all because of love.
What a beautiful memory and one you will never forget. Nothing can replace knowing your parents were there for you, nothing.
WOW is right.
sognatrice on 14 May 2007 at 8:13 pm #

Peabody, Vanessa, Cheeky, thanks so much for your comments; my mom appreciates them too
heartinsanfrancisco on 15 May 2007 at 3:08 am #

What a lovely story! Your mom rocks.

Knowing that you were (and are) so loved by your mother set you up for life. I’m sure that whatever she had to do to be there, it meant the world to her, too.
sognatrice on 15 May 2007 at 6:55 am #

Thanks Heart, and I agree with you
Erin on 15 May 2007 at 3:07 pm #

That’s a really sweet story!
it's me, Val on 15 May 2007 at 8:40 pm #

Very very sweet! I love your posts
sognatrice on 16 May 2007 at 6:59 am #

Erin and Val, thanks