For Adele Alexandrine Ludivine
much to the amusement and sniggering
of potential skin cancer victims
no sunspots for madame
she taught me
how to find the best mango
how to make mayonnaise
how to marinate olives
she taught me how to sew french knots
how to keep the cut flowers from wilting
how to cream my elbows
( important for every girl to have smooth elbows and fresh underwear )
how to use a parasol as a weapon of self defence
she played old vinyl records and danced in her big apron around the house
everything that came into her aura bloomed
the cats adored her
the canary used to sing with her
she made a home with colour life and love
Weekly Scribblings # 47...PSU
Your poem touched my heart .. amazing lady you have described so eloquently. My mother taught me how to ‘French knot’ ~ sadly back in the 40s/50s skin cancer was not on our radar. I still pay that price. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteOh, she sounds just so wonderful! Oh, creaming elbows. My daughter was trained as an aesthetician, and complains about my elbows! I love the French cooking joke!
ReplyDeleteIndeed she was wonderful!
DeleteYour mom was a neat "How to" teacher. Moms have a knack for doing that, I think their confidence is built by being right so many times.
ReplyDeleteSpecial for me was your summation, "everything that came into her aura bloomed," which, since she always fed them, went for the cats too.
!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!
We are celeebrating (across town, I think, in Katy) with our daughter, grandaughter, and SIL. It's a five minute walk but we will drive in case of rain.
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I feel a little called-out for my elbows. Hahaha! I enjoyed your writing and the pictures,
ReplyDeleteI love the learning and teaching in this. Some lessons explicitly taught while others were gleaned from exposure. Sounds like an amazing instructor/relative/friend.
ReplyDeleteA grandmother? Whoever, what a rich blessing to have her in your life!
ReplyDeleteHow reliable grandmothers were when I was child too, always willing to look after a grandchild and spoil them a bit!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! What a cool woman. Loved the cartoon as well.
ReplyDelete