Funny Cards, Flowery Cards and Face Cream

The year before mum died I thought it would be funny to buy her a practical gift: one which she could get some use out of! She saw the funny side as I presented her with Tea Towels, Marigolds a peg bag whilst my sister bought her a beautiful scarf. As I presented her with the gifts she reminded me of the time I bought her some face cream.
I was about 8 years old and I went into our local chemist and asked for some face cream for mum as a gift for mothers day
"What kind of skin does your mum have?" the chemist asked.
"Old Skin" I replied
It became a standing joke that was mentioned nearly every mothers day and this one was no exception!

The following year, my sisters and I found ourselves discussing  what we should buy mum for Mother's Day and Birthday as we thought we wouldn't have the opportunity to buy for her again. We ended up buying her an I Pod that she could listen to whilst having Chemotherapy. We put on it all the songs that we thought would make her smile! There were old favourites like "Sweet Caroline" and "Que Sera, Sera" but in amongst the compilation were my suggestions  "Staying Alive" and "Living on a Prayer" I think I saw her smiling as she looked down the playlist!

That's what was special about mum. She knew we were all different and loved us all equally and no matter what gift we bought her she was always so animated!

Thing is, I still buy gifts for mum on  mother's day, birthday and Christmas. I still send her cards and I still write to her on Facebook. The fact that she has not been able to say thank you for the gifts and cards over the last 7 years has made no difference. I still love choosing the cards and buying the gifts and imagining mum's reaction as she opened them.
Just because Mum is not here in person does not stop that love and that joy.

TodayI found myself in "Paperchase" looking at Mother's day cards.

A young shop assistant noticed me picking up the cards and putting them back.

“There’s so many to choose from,” she said

“Does your mum prefer funny cards or flowery cards?”

I didn't have the heart to tell her that mum had died nearly 7 years ago.

It gets to me every year. Shops full of cards and gifts saying how you are the best mum in the world but not one that says you are the best mum out of this world!

I tried to explain to the young shop assistant that mum liked small cards with a simple message rather that what mum referred to as “Top of the Telly Cards”

Bless her; the young assistant pointed me in the direction of a selection of small simple cards with just the sentiment “Happy Mothers Day.”

“These are blank, “ she says, “to put in your own message”

I told her that my 2 sisters and I always sent mum the same message:

Loved You Yesterday

Love you still

Always have

Always Will

Followed by….

I am everything I am because you loved me.

At that she went to a nearby display and took a pen. She asked me to repeat the message and smiled

“What a lovely idea” she said “I’m going to do that this year. Thank you”

I picked a card from the selection she had shown me and took it to the counter.

The young shop assistant served me and said

“Hope your Mum likes the card”

I smiled and replied

“I’m sure she will.”

So as another mother's day approaches I am smiling at the gift I have bought for mum...face cream for "Old Skin" I can imagine her smiling as she remembers that 8 year old girl who thought her mum had old skin when she was only 31 yrs old!
Happy Mother's Day Mum
"I am everything I am because you loved me"