Simple Smiles!

When thus heart is in a vein

Of tender thought, the simplest strain

Can touch it with peculiar power.

              Thomas Moore

Whatever Mama wants, Mama gets; yes I know the original version is all about Lola but this is the version I sing to my Mom as I dance around her at unscripted times. She usually laughs and says “You darn fool”, this makes me smile every time.

It is 7 a.m. Saturday morning and I stare out the window watching the snow come down, the beaters from my mixer clang against the sides of a metal bowl; I smile as I watch the egg whites turn into fluffy mountain peaks reminding me of the snow covered mountains through British Columbia while on that train trip of a lifetime last year with Melissa. The distinct clanging of those beaters sounding like the bouncing heavy train wheels passing over those sometimes very bumpy steel rails back then. I will never forget that trip and all those seemingly small simple memories that continue to make me smile. I turn off the mixer and scrap the meringue out of the bowl and pile it onto the lemon pie I had promised my Mom for supper tonight. Whatever Mama wants.

I swirl the fluffy whiteness over the creamy yellow and make more mountain peaks, I place it in the oven to brown while wondering what else we shall have, even though just pie and a spoon has high appeal to Mom at different times. I smile as I think of that saying “The apple does not fall far from the tree”. Since we had a nice Crock Pot Turkey Stew last night and I watched as Mom devoured a huge bowl with a large bun I try to think of what else she likes. I remember a phone conversation last week that was all about hamburgers and how much she loved them; hamburgers it will be. My sisters and I always try to make things we know Mom loves to eat, and we all agree we love watching her devour it with a huge smile on her face, this was not always the case, I hope it lasts. Whatever Mama wants.

I think about our Friday together and with the aroma of that turkey stew coming from the kitchen I had asked Mom if she thought it was time to take the Christmas tree down or if not maybe we could just pack up the Nativity that sits beside her kitchen table where she enjoys it while she eats her breakfast. She refused saying it makes her happy. We set the table with those pretty Christmas scene plates and she smiles. Whatever Mama wants.

The timer goes off and my thoughts are disrupted, I put on oven mitts and pull out the Lemon Meringue Pie, Mom’s favourite, this should make her smile. Whatever Mama wants.

Most times in life it is those simple moments or sentences that keep you smiling.  Whatever Mama wants.........."You darn fool". Smile!

Later