The Mommy Book

     When reading a book by Erma Bombeck, I can relate.  Her journey took her to a lot of places that I can only wish I have been to.      But rereading books can give me the jitters.  I am given these books upon suggestions of Richard's family.      I started with a selection where I started the last book on her list.  I chose a first book in that list and I found another of her books somewhere in the middle.      Right now I am in her stories and experiences with patients of Terminal Cancer.      TC is definitely worse than any of my imaginary friends combined.      I leave you with her cover.

     Reading Erma Bombeck's At Wit's End is actually very good reading material for unemployed 53 year olds like me.      This version has illustrations. It is a reminder that each generation has their own grasp of what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos.      It reminds me of their own precious memories. Erma Bombeck was America's funniest woman in the '80's.      Here are a few pages from Meimi's copy.  

     It was only a few more weeks left 'till Christmas and I wondered how my grandmother would have felt after reading my history papers.          I suppose she was my first nanny second only to my Mom.            I remember her crinkled smiling face, her tobacco-chewing mouth. She cured my wounds with guava leaves. She boiled them before applying and she cooked and maybe helped with laundry.            Maybe my sister Jo Ann remembers my Lola better. What I remember more is my Auntie's Mom.            Maybe my parents were forced to get a divorce. Our neighbors thought we were too noisy.            But Daddy showed by example. Mama became a Martha, trying her hardest to fit in.            Maybe I was a younger Mary, silently watching.            This Christmas, hopefully after the mayhem of COVID and past wars, let us try to be kind.            Grandmothers might be hard of hearing, might be depressed and sinking in their thoughts.            So if granny refuses to eat,