Mom and Mother Nature

It was also in New Jersey that we got our first lessons in watching nature. Mom would take all three of her little ones into the woods. She would line us up on a fallen log and tell us to be real quiet and watch. If we were successful, we would be able to see chipmonks, squirrells, bunnies or birds that would come out to play. S., the youngest, had the most trouble being still, but he learned that brother and sister could get annoyed if he scared something off. Mom usually calmed us down then by telling stories. She was amazing. Do you know about Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear? She would read to us and change her voice for each animal. She could also do an amazing Irish or Scotch or English accent. Her stories were something I could never quite duplicate with my own sons. Those slow afternoons in the woods are something I've never grown weary of. It still feels like being in Church when I can get away to a quiet woods. Or beside a stream or lake. It's one of the best gifts my Mother ever gave me.

This is jumping ahead a great many years, but it fits with what Mom gave me. I was very lucky to receive a gift of a trip to Alaska. Mom had been dead many years by then and I was missing her greatly on the afternoon I was walking on a volcanic black sand beach on Katchamak Bay. It was so beautiful and I couldn't help thinking how much Mom would have loved to be walking that beach with me. I was alone with no one even near. I often sing when I'm alone like that, and that afternoon I was singing some of Moms favorite songs just so she would feel close. Gospal songs like "I blieve, Somebody Bigger Than You and I, Amazing Grace." The ones we use to sing together. Her alto and my soprano could harmonize pretty well. Well, it got to me and I cried out loud, "Oh Mom, I wish you were here with me." I just sat down right there and cried. When I could focus again, I found a small pebble heart...right at my feet. It was perfect in size and shape. Flat on both sides and smooth. It hangs around my neck right now and has ever since Mom gave it to me on that beach in Alaska. I BELIEVE!