Anna Monica – Ripples

On a shelf in my living room there is a cartoon picture that has been with me for quite a few years; in fact, it is just about turning color now. I framed it, kept it and often look at it because it is very meaningful to me. It shows a “superman-type,” in his superman uniform, with his mom kissing his finger. The caption says “Sometimes even superheroes have to have their mom kiss their boo-boo just to make them feel all better.”

It’s meaningful to me because the message, I believe, is that no matter how old we are or what our status in life is, in very low times, and often even in high times, we want to run to our mothers. Especially in low times, when we are hurt physically or otherwise, there is nothing that can comfort us like the presence of our moms can. No arms, no kisses, no words can soothe us and make us feel “all better” likes hers can. And, there is no supporter stronger than she is; or anyone who means more to us than she does.

Personally, I believe it is a God-given gift to be a mom. Regretfully, there are some who give birth and don’t appreciate or nurture that gift, and what a tragic loss for them as well as for that child. However, among the many moms I know, their children are their most cherished possessions.

My brother-in-law, O’Neil Himel, never knew his mom, who died. His aunt and uncle, the O’Neil Aucoins of Reserve became his parents. He had a wonderful life with them but we know that he has always had a deep yearning to know his biological mom. As we see it, he has not allowed that to overshadow his present family life and he is a strong support to Phyllis, the mother of his four children, and a loving grandfather to his grandchildren, allowing nothing to interfere or damage those relationships. Years ago, his son, Randy, was spending the night at my mom’s house and O’Neil called early the next morning to tell Randy that “his mother had breakfast on the table for him.” So, it seems that for those who have not had that kind of mom, there is always a chance to make it better in the future.

Years ago, at our church in Garyville, the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary use to hand out roses on Mother’s Day; red ones if your mother was alive and white ones if she was deceased.

Being much younger, I still remember well looking in sadness at those who wore the white ones and feeling such a sense of pride because mine was red.

That has changed and now all the flowers are one color and I am so grateful because for the first time in my entire life, I would not have a red flower. My mom passed away last October and we still have not got past the point of thinking of her without pain. They say “old habits die hard” and that is true because every time I get home or go somewhere, my thoughts are to “call my mom.” My siblings are the same way because she was our only parent for so many years; we had that close bond. My dad died long ago at an early age so Mom was all we knew, and she was the one who passed on to us our work ethic, religious and moral values and a general appreciation of family. We stuck together because we had to in order to make our way in the world. Besides, there was nobody in the entire world who could make spaghetti gravy like she could so for most of my life, if we had spaghetti, it was Sunday. Sundays were special, and so was her spaghetti!

My mom, Vita, was one of “the five Navarra girls” as they were well known in close circles. They were Marie, Vita, Clara, Catherine and Frances. There were always there, having had longevity of life so we just couldn’t think of the day they would not be there. But, in two years time, three are now gone with Marie Guidry, the oldest and Frances Falgoust, the youngest and my mom’s real pal, remaining. As difficult as it is, we must attempt to realize that this is “the cycle of life” with some leaving this life and some coming into it, although it isn’t easy. We never, ever outgrow the need for mom’s kisses.

To all you moms out there, moms-to-be and would-be moms, a very happy Mother’s Day. As for me, a single, I thank my brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and dear friends for letting me share in the love and lives of their children. They would probably say that I interfere and spoil them, but what is a devoted aunt to do – and besides, it’s too late to stop me. We have shared too many kisses, even if they had no “boo-boo.”

Anna Monica writes this column weekly and can reached at lobnews@bellsouth.net