This blog is my first and as a new beginning, I wanted to start by talking about mothers, who bring new life to the world, and Mother’s Day, which is Sunday, May 8. Mother’s Day always makes me a little sad. I wasn’t really close to my mom. She liked to party and I liked to read and hike. She was really beautiful, and I’ve always been a tom-boy with a nerdy-side. She was the only woman I ever knew who could dress like Cher and look amazing. We didn’t get along either. When she passed away 3 years ago, we had a ceremony on San Francisco Bay and scattered her ashes. It was a perfect day on the Bay. She would have loved it. And it was one of the few times me and my brothers got together. After we scattered her ashes, we scattered rose petals on the water and said good bye. The petals of pink, yellow, peach, and red surrounded the chartered boat and then slowly moved away in different directions. Mothers are like that: They do their best to surround you with their love, then they have to let you go so you can be your own person and live your own life.
These things we all share: mothers, fathers, and life, to name a few. Nature reminds me of that all the time. The beavers living downtown in Alhambra Creek, the racoons looking for food around my apartment complex, the coyotes in Briones all had a mom who helped them get started in this life. When I’m hiking in the hills I always think about how we are all connected. Life is what connects us, and the earth that we share connects us. Although Earth Day was celebrated last month, Mother’s Day is a good day to think about the earth too and how we need it and need to protect it.
After writing for Martinez Patch I’ve learned a lot about Martinez, and I realized there’s a pier in Martinez! I haven’t actually walked down it yet, so this year, on Mother’s Day, I’m going to walk out on the pier and scatter rose petals on the water and think about my mom. Hopefully I won’t get arrested, although she would have been all for that. I should pick out a bail bonds place before I go, just in case. I have a lot of options to choose from in this town.
The time we have in life is precious. The only thing we have control of is right now. If you have a mom and she’s your best friend, congratulations. But if you have a mom who you are angry with or she’s mad at you, look past it on Mother’s Day and call or stop by. Remind her that you care. Find the compassion to let go of all the disagreements and differences. It is only one day. Make it a day of good memories that you can share. There will come a time when those memories are all you have.
If you happen to be by the pier, and see any rose petals on the water, you’ll know they are from me, and represent memories of my colorful mom.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms.
