Mothers' day
It was Saturday. The next day May 8, the world would be celebrating a special occasion called Mother's Day. At work that morning, there were seven of us seated at a long lunch table--six middle aged ladies and a young man in his early 20s. Our conversation topic centered on Mother's day and what this young man would give his mum on this yearly celebration.
"None," he replied and added that he had no idea what else his mom wanted or needed. His mom, by the way, is a famous artist in New Zealand and according to him had been given the honor of knighthood by the Queen and is now called a 'Dame'.
"Give her flowers," I suggested. "A decent arrangement of roses from flower shops here would cost a little less than a hundred dollars."
"Or if you want something affordable, there are flowers at the supermarket," Vanessa, the lady seated next to me seconded.
"Bring her breakfast in bed," Sue, the lady seated at the head of the table suggested. "It doesn't have to be something pricey, even simple things like doing something for her would please any mum," she added.
The young man did not respond to any of our suggestions, which I took to mean he was thinking about them.
But that conversation and my own suggestion reverberated in my thoughts. "Give her flowers." That was something I haven't done and would love to do next Mother's day for my own mother.
Honestly, I first thought about that--giving flowers to my mother--a long, time ago. Until one occassion triggered that deep thought of the absent-minded-me. That was during the early 90s and our Publisher/Boss was having another idea for a new weekly magazine in Pilipino language. So, Tess, Glo and I were asked to come to her house in Wack-Wack for a brainstorming session.
In the middle of that meeting, the Boss' daughter arrived with a bunch of flowers in her arms. (If I remember right, they were white lillies.) The younger woman apologized for disturbing the meeting, then approached her mom to give her a kiss and hand the flowers she was carrying.
I saw the old woman's face glow with delight as she took the bouquet of flowers from her daughter. Her eyes were glowing and the smile on her face clearly showed her pleasure with her daughter's love and thoughtfulness.
I saw the old woman's face glow with delight as she took the bouquet of flowers from her daughter. Her eyes were glowing and the smile on her face clearly showed her pleasure with her daughter's love and thoughtfulness.
The Boss then excused herself, sprang from her seat and disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she was back at the meeting table carrying a tall, crystal vase. Our eyes focused on her while she carefully arranged the flowers in the vase filled with water. With a wide grin on her face and a gentle touch on the flowers, she blurted out "so beautiful!". Satisfaction and pleasure was marked clearly on her face when she moved towards her working table and carefully placed the flower vase on top of a pink doily. Facing her daughter who waited for her, she planted a kiss on the younger woman's cheek before bidding her goodbye.
That scene left me thinking to myself. Would my own mother appreciate flowers too? Would she be delighted as well to receive flowers on Mother's Day or even on her birthday? Our mother was not used to receiving flowers from us her children, but flowers would be something different for her to receive.
I resolved to buy her flowers on the next Mother's Day. Unfortunately, several Mother's Days passed by since then and even her birthdays came and went but no flowers were bought by me for our Ima.
Then all of a sudden in 1998, with nary a goodbye, she slipped away, leaving all ten of us, her children and a few grandchildren behind.
Finally, I was able to bring her flowers for the first time on Mother's day in 1999. They were beautiful white roses which I tearfully arranged on a simple vase and carefully laid on her tomb. Sadly, she was not able to see the flowers I brought for her. And I did not get to see her face light up at the sight of flowers, nor did I hear her thank me for them.
I would have traded anything in this world that day for that last chance to hear our Ima call my name, see her face light up and smile at me as I bring her flowers on Mother's day.
Happy Mother's day to all mothers. And to everybody who still have their mothers around today, treasure them. You never know when you won't be able to hear her call your name again.
