We Take Many Things For Granted....

In talking to a friend in the U.K., I discovered that they don't celebrate Mother's Day there.  I really thought that had spread to both Canada and the U.K. but it hasn't.   We have a mutual friend (Carol in CA) and he had called her at work but she was too busy to talk to him.  He was a bit put off by it but both she and I tried to explain to him that it was a bigger Holiday than most others.  I told him that Sunday is always the busiest day at restaurants all year long.  It was a real shock to him because he thought it so strange.

I hadn't really thought about the Holiday or how it even started but, know what?  I really don't care.  Mothers are special people.  They love their children with all their hearts, even when they get broken.  They nurture them when they are infants and toddlers, go to PTA meetings, meetings with teachers, T-ball games, soccer games, baseball and football games, school plays, recitals of all kinds.  They take the kids shopping, on vacations, wash their clothes, make their beds and teach them many things they will need once they live on their own.  Mothers are truly special people and I would dearly love to be able to show that to my own mother.  However, she has been dead for many years now.  I think she knows how much her children love and miss her.  

As for me, the Beast has always been *Mr. Bah Humbug* about any holiday that occurs.  Even our wedding anniversary although he usually makes some kind of gesture for that one.  I was always the one that sent his mother a card every year.  He has no real sentiment in his makeup.  I think my kids inherited some of that from him.  A sort of so-so attitude about everything except, perhaps, Christmas and birthdays.  However, they all are very family oriented and that means their children first, which is as it should be.  Kids are special and we love to see them happy.  It's a real joy to see the smiles on their faces.  One day, those kids are the ones that will be celebrating Mother's Day with THEIR mother's, won't they?

We all enjoy getting together with extended members of our family.  Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents  and great-Grands when they were alive.  Even cousins and aunts and uncles that are twice removed.  We're Irish here and there are so many members of our *family* that we stopped considering just how we are related.  We are *family*.  

I think that it's difficult for people from other countries to understand many things we do here in the U.S.   Even such things as family reunions that occur because we want to get together, not just the ones that occur at weddings and funerals.  We don't give such things a second thought until we have friends from other countries that express surprise when we mention them.  Like I said, we take many things for granted.   Things we should be grateful for being able to celebrate in our own way.  I kind of feel badly for all the mothers all over the world that don't have a special day like we give to mothers here.

If your mother is alive and well, don't forget her this Sunday.  Call her, or stop by with some flowers and a card.  Tell her you love her.  Life is short.  Don't take her for granted.  She forgives you when you forget such things as Mother's Day and her birthday.  Let her know you love her, too.

Love you much.  ****Hugs****