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September 23 2024

An Old-fashioned Letter

Hey Mom

Happy Birthday as you would be turning 84 tomorrow. Been a while since we talked, but I thought I would sit down and write you a letter. I do not know where exactly to send it. It would a thrill, to sit down tonight and play a game of Scrabble. I am probably worse playing since the last time we played. You kept me in scrabble shape, The New York Times crossword puzzle they have too much celebrity stuff there and I never get those right. There is this game called Wordle. It is quite the fad these days. I don’t play Wordle, but if you played I probably would. You were no Luddite, you would have picked up fast.

Cancer really sucks, As we approach the age you were when you got cancer, many of our friends are fighting their own battles as well. Cancer still sucks. I don’t know what to tell people who are going through it and even more so the partners that are going through it.  I wish I knew what helped a cancer patient be happy.  I wish I knew what made a cancer patient comfortable. I still can not find the right words.

Yeah, a lot of things have changed since we last talked. We have a country that has been divided and split in half. You lived on the Mason Dixon line, but this is much different. We have a fifth season here in the west known as the wildfire season. It’s hard to explain but things catch on fire in the woods and it is warmer than it used to be. Speaking of warmer than it used to be we spend all our time in the sun, so you can rest easy. I do get checked for skin cancer every year. It is a necessity now and I inherited that from you.

Oh yeah, a few years back I had a heart attack. Most of it was attributed to the guy you married as I picked up a lot of his genetics. I did pick up some genetics from you. I still have good teeth.  You told me it’s gonna happen, but I never believed you, but yes, I’m getting older all the running over the years has taken its toll. There are certain days that everything in my body hurts. It hurts in a different way. 

I still make many of the dishes that you made often. You might not agree with me but I think I make them a lot better. That is open for debate. I remembered the first dish you taught me. You taught me how to cook chicken ala king. I burnt my hands the first time I made it.  Yes, I make shepherds pie, macaroni and cheese, ham and string beans and chicken noodle soup. I know you think I’m crazy, but I do not put meat in any of them.  Remember when you and I used to go to the hoagie shop, we loved to get yogi hoagies.  We were a renegade. We were way ahead of time.

 I love this time of year around your birthday when the weather turns cooler. My favorite holiday with you was always Thanksgiving when we would take the dogs for long walks and sometimes it would snow. You always made a tremendous meal. One year you made me canned mushrooms, that was sweet.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention you’re a great grandmother. Another thing  I did get married again.  You have a grandson and granddaughter living up in Seattle. Their names are Arthur and Baby Lou. Riley married a gentlemen named Drew who you would truly love. You never met Jenna and Riley and that saddens me at times.

And then across the ocean, you have another great granddaughter her name is Yafa. She just started walking this week. All the grandkids are wonderful, and you would love spending time with them. I always wanted to take you to Germany. Max lives in Berlin and Marina in Mainz. They ask about you often.

I guess I should have mentioned, but I’ve been married for the last century and a half. You and Jenna would’ve got along and do plenty of projects together. She likes some of the same stuff that you do. I know you guys would share that. That is one thing. I’m extremely confident about how you and Jenna would get along so well.

Yes, your family is all over the world. You have grandkids in Germany and Seattle. You have kids in Atlanta and Washington and even Delaware. Pop is doing well and you would be  proud of his life that he is living. We talk about you often. We love you very much and we miss you.

By the way, we are all getting together in Western Maryland next year and our thoughts will be with you.

Happy Birthday MomMom