Guest Blogger #27
Due to some procrastination on a couple of parts in this house, the piece I was going to post today is in...limbo. Whether it shows up in some form or not is a question.
But I can always count on Mom.
By mother thought, since my birthday is coming up, she'd write something appropriate for the day I share with Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey, and George Bernard Shaw, among others. Thanks again, Mom, for saving the day and keeping the streak going.
I corrected one of her memories, by the way. I don't blame her for thinking I was the culprit, but when you get stitches for the first time as a kid and they hold you down and put drapes over your face and you can't eat anything because it hurts, you don't forget.
And ain't none of you calling me Chuckie, understand? I can block and I will.
Today is July 22, but since she had something in mind she called it...
July 26, 2005
I had been searching in the armoire for something, and pulled out a file that had been stuffed to the back. It contained old papers, drawings and cards that my children had made for me many years ago. I left them on the bed while I went to answer the phone. When I returned, my dog, Barney, was racing around the house with a paper in his mouth and piles of ripped-up colored paper on the floor. I thought, “oh Barney, what have you got into now?” When I caught him and took the paper out of his mouth, I saw that it was in the shape of an apron and had a mimeographed poem typed on it with a child’s drawing of flowers on it. A notation on the back said that it was from “Chuckie, in the 1st grade.” I knew what the poem said, but I had to read it again.
A Plea
Be kind to me for I am young
And make mistakes, I know…
But in my heart, you’ll find this true,
I always love you so.
Be patient, too, and do not scold
But help me find my way,
That I may walk a happy path,
By kindly words you say.
Teach me the meaning of a prayer,
The value of a song,
Help me to understand all things
And know the right from wrong.
Give me some hours by your side
That we may dream and smile,
And share sweet joys together
For youth lasts just a while.
But most of all, love me please
As only you can do,
For God placed me within your care
And my whole world is you.
LaVerne P. Larson
I remembered that poem so well. It must have been given to me on a Mothers Day, many years ago. The words have stuck in my heart all this time. I believed every word written was so true. I loved being a mother to three small children and being entrusted to help them find the right path, for each of them, to make their way into the world. And…they do grow up so fast!
With “Chuckie,” every day was a challenge. He was a happy, curious child who was into everything. He had a quick temper that flared up and then disappeared just as fast. He had fears of loud noises and fire, as many children do. He gave us a terrible scare one day when he tried to climb the stand the 21-inch television was sitting on. It fell over on top of him, but according to the doctor we rushed him to, no damage was done to him or even the television set.
He fought with his brother and once got sent to the emergency room for stitches when Bill slammed a swing into him in a fit of anger.
As he grew up, we found he had a wonderful imagination. He loved to write poems and stories that his grandmother patiently typed up for him. He loved music and loved to act in school plays. We discovered as a teenager that he had a good voice and he was cast in several musicals in high school. He was interested in government and history and entertainment and sports. He was interested in everything. He still is...
A mother’s memories...and I have special ones of each of my kids. Today is for you, Chuck. Happy birthday and I’m so grateful that we all have been able to share your life. You have added the spice to ours. Wish you many, many more years of happiness.
9:28:42 AM 
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