Morning Friend,For anyone for whom yesterday was bittersweet, because the "Guest of Honor" was missing, I offer my sincerest hope that she dwells strong in your hearts and remains alive through you, by the life and love she gave to you.It is with no small measure of pride that I say a Special "good morning" to my youngest "fan"; my 10-year-old niece, Janelle !At yesterday's wonderful Mother's Day dinner at my brother's place, ( highlighted by enough of Gwen's delicious cannelloni be the Olive Garden's Feature - or my lunches- this week !), the precocious youngster asked, "Are you going to write about this in tomorrow's Musings Uncle Tim?....I read them you know !?".The first thing that came to my disbelieving mind was "do you understand it?".Now don't get me wrong, Monday Musings is not "peer-reviewed" by Mensa, and that child is "scary" bright, but I haven't been beset by any freelance offers from TWEEN magazine lately!?"Oh I understand it Uncle Tim, it's very funny," she said."Well.......", said I, adding, "I salute your prodigious proclivity young lady, but I don't actually know what I'm going to write about until I wake up on Monday morning"....( even though I KNEW that somehow, this "exchange" and delightful "revelation" would merit some mention).It is humbling to the utmost and a tremendous cause for optimism to know that "pop culture" hasn't so completely overtaken the hearts and minds of today's youth, that there is still a little room for simple stories about "winter cycling", "bad hair", "bad habits" and "spiritual redemption".Not that I'll be warming up the crowd at a Jonas Brothers concert with "Musing riffs" anytime soon, but I am heretofore mindful NOT to underestimate the intellect and social consciousness of children, especially those raised by intelligent and socially conscious MOTHERS!"Ah-HAH!!", you're saying good friend, "NOW he's gotten to the point!"And indeed and of course I have.In my opinion, having a "good" Mother, while not a guarantee, gives any person the best chance to do well in life.Not that anyone with a "bad" Mom, or without one in their lives haven't done well for themselves but I think history itself invariably reveals the correlation between a Mother's positive influence and the achievements of her offspring.The Kennedys, had a ROCK for a Mother, while Frankenstein, had no-one.I haven't won a Pulitzer ( yet), but I'm doing pretty well these days and it's no accident that I happen to have an "excellent" Mom.While I could fill pages with examples of her excellence, I'll summarize its' essence by saying....throughout my life she has, by her words and actions, consistently demonstrated to me, her unconditional love and support and set an example, which in all good conscience and sensibility I am obliged to uphold, respect and revere.Which in a nutshell means, if you find me terrorizing a Transylvanian village this week, it's against her better advice.Not that she wouldn't still love me....THAT I'll know, despite the contrary sentiments of the angry pitchfork-wielding mob.I happen to have written about that kind of love a year ago for Mother's Day and I think it bears repeating. ( turns out I was "musing" BEFORE I was "Monday Musing"!?)A Mother's Love by Tim Lawrence" There is in this cold and hollow world no fount of deep, strong, deathless love,
save that within a mother's heart." FELICIA HEMANS eng. poet ( 1793 - 1835)I was struck the other day by a quote in the newspaper from a mother whose "gangster"
son had been allegedly murdered while in prison. The young man, who'd lived a violent
and troubled life, had been found in the morning dead in his bunk; a victim of the same
brand of swift and horrific violence he had himself wrought upon society.The writer's objective litany of the man's offenses left little to be found in the way of
sympathy, short of evoking the "live by the sword...." adage. Who indeed in any right minded society could be reading this story and not be other than thankful for "prison justice" and;
given the incident's proximity to Mother's Day, pitying perhaps for this man's Mom, and whatever might be left of her shredded dignity.Well, leave it to good old "Mom" herself, to weigh in on the old "adage-invoking train"....
leaving little doubt as to the "fount of her deathless love", when she supposed a measure of
"heroics" upon her boy in what would have been his dying moments."It must have taken more that one of them (attackers) to do this," she said, implying facts about her son's death yet unknown. "He was very strong," she added.I am struck to the core by how this woman - (whose own flesh and blood had seemingly devoted his life to mayhem and murder; all manner of things contrary to what normally evokes pride in one's mother), THIS Mother could still voice something positive about her boy....
that he was "strong"."To what depths of depravity," I ask myself, " must a son lower himself ? How low must one go to be "under the radar" of a Mother's extraordinary love?"The answer lies not even in the extreme example of this tragic story....because there is no answer.It is as mysterious as the gift of life itself which all Mothers bestow upon us.It is immeasurable....as are the HEIGHTS of a Mother's joy, and dreams, and hopes for her children.I can say with all certainty, that in the entire history of mankind, very few people who asked themselves, "Would my Mother approve?", then went ahead and make a WRONG decision.I would urge all sons and daughters on this, and in every other precious day, to take a moment to see yourselves through your Mom's eyes, and you will be struck by how truly special you are, and the wonderful potential you have to make this beautiful world she has brought you into....even more so!You are stronger that even SHE thinks you are.God Bless and Happy Mother's Day to You All! Especially my Mom!Love Tim April,2008* * * * * * * * * * * * * *Does anyone know if Tiger Beat accepts unsolicited submissions?...from a writer with a "young following"?Is that magazine still around?Janelle?.....love tImMy:/
Laugh as much as you breathe....
Love as long as you live ( prodigiously)
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