I followed the Facebook crowd this week and changed my profile picture to one that includes my mom. I’ll be missing her tomorrow, although in my mind I always try to change the phrase ‘missing my mom’ to ‘thinking of Mom.’ Because I do think of her, every single day. She continues to be part of my life – all of her kids’ lives. Her loving example and her compassion and support imprinted on us in similar, and different ways.
Certainly, all five of us have been imprinted by Mom’s passion for Neapolitan ice cream. I’m not sure where her affinity for Neapolitan ice cream came from, perhaps it just stemmed from trying to please the flavor choices of five kids. Mom always bought Neapolitan ice cream to go with birthday cake. It’s not the flavor that any of the five of us would have requested had we been asked, but it was the ice cream that was served at family birthday celebrations.
Mom would peel the cardboard carton away from the solid block of ice cream and cut it with a long knife, offering everyone a small taste of each flavor. I’m not sure how much we were allowed to complain about this at the time, but we’re still complaining,and laughing, about it fifty years later. Oh how I wish I had a picture of her (with the tip of her tongue sticking out between her lips as she meticulously cut those pink, white, and brown slices) to post in this blog, but I certainly have it in my head and in my heart.
Earlier this year at a family gathering (perhaps my brother’s birthday) Neapolitan M&Ms appeared on the table. That same brother distributed Neapolitan Lindor truffles at my niece’s baby shower last month. Since then, my other brother texted a picture of Meijer Neapolitan coffee to our siblings text string, and then my sister followed with a picture of Neapolitan Rice Krispy treats!
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed after the Rice Krispy Treat text. “How I wish Mom was here to see this. You know she would have them at her house waiting for us to try when we stopped by to visit.”
I love getting group texts from my siblings. This week my brother texted a link to a recipe for Strawberry Champagne Poke Cake and posed the question about whether Mom (a huge fan of poke n pour cakes) would have tried the recipe. Maybe if she had a coupon.
Neapolitan ice cream, poke n pour cakes, coupons, brevity, Harry Belafonte (who recently passed away), singing, garage sales, euchre, giving advice, the sock on the mantle, peace, pussy willows, smiling, welcoming a new baby to the family… all of these things, and so many more, keep her with us each and every day.
We love you Mom, and we’re glad you’re here.
Once Upon a Willow 