Comments | choirlass: I need a little help from my friends

choirlass

I need a little help from my friends

Sep 17, 2007 10:25

I'm having kind of a hard time here. I had a horrible weekend at work, something bad happened. And tomorrow is my mom's 85th birthday. I've blocked out the day to be spent just with my family, and hopefully there won't be any unexpected demands, and I'm reaching out to you for your memories of my mom. So, would you please share a memory of my ( Read more... )

Comments 9

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choirlass September 18 2007, 16:11:33 UTC

Wow, that is soooo Mom. And I'm thrilled that you mastered those important Medieval skills! I know that in the early years of Caid, when Mom was still Angels Seneschal, (did I spell that right?) she spent way more time at her typewriter writing reports than on anything that anyone would consider to be a 'period' art or skill. But her real genius came at putting out fires. She had a real gift for cutting through the BS and shooting the shooters. I'm glad she passed on that skill to someone so worthy.

choirlass September 18 2007, 16:24:41 UTC

And I forgot to say thank you for writing, I appreciate your caring more than I can say.

firedrake_mor September 17 2007, 19:12:15 UTC

I'll have one today, and probably several tomorrow:

Y'see, I first met your mom at Angels Anniversary, 1973. She was exiting the woods with Waldt von Markheim at the end of a rope, wearing naught but a lady's wool skirt on. No shirt, no other garb. It seems she was to lead him before Queen Seitse for the crime of not giving up kisses when tied to a tree.

I said to my 19-year-old self, "Now THIS is a Lady I don't want to get angry at me!" 34 later later, I still don't. She was a light, and a comfort, and a joy to my life. She could also be maddening, infuriating, and we had some GLORIOUS arguments!

Blessings on her natal day. May you be strengthened by her memory, and comforted by the love remembered.

(the icon is me, about a year later . . . )

firedrake_mor September 17 2007, 19:13:48 UTC

Hmmm . . . it occurs to me that I should clarify that Waldt was the one wearing the wool skirt, and that she was leading him.

choirlass September 18 2007, 16:23:40 UTC

How did I miss that one? I think I remember reading about some of the shenanigans in the Crown Prints and thinking 'I wish I'd been there, sounds like fun!' But now all I can think is, "Poor Waldt!" (I can't imagine him not giving up kisses come to think of it, I think he was framed!) I think Mom's sense of humor was one of her greatest strengths, laughter got us through a lot of bad times, and made the good times better. Thank you for writing, I knew I could count on you. It's good to have friends like you and Selene.

(You were a handsome devil in those days...)

One more memory for today . . . firedrake_mor September 18 2007, 21:12:42 UTC

Some years later, I had Written A Letter to King Armand II, because Mark and I had been talking about things that were problems in the Kingdom, and being the brash young fellow I was, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong to give him a more complete analysis. Silly me.

In the course of the Letter, I mentioned a few people who I thought were Good Examples (TM) among the Peerages, your Mom included.

That 12th Night, Armand used lines from my letter to reprimand the Peerage orders in detail and at length. [sigh] That also happened to be the day I gave copies of my letter to the secretaries of the Peerage orders so that no one could spread rumors about what I was supposed to have said. Bad move. I got accused of "having the King in my back pocket" (yeah, as if), and then I got a call from Cat.

It started out calmly enough, until she got to the part about "Why the HELL did you have to "skyline" me in front of the other peers?!?!" Some of them now thing I was involved with your letter!" She went on to describe how she'd "gotten ( ... )

Re: One more memory for today . . . choirlass September 18 2007, 23:33:47 UTC

Oh you are, you are...

marymont September 19 2007, 02:08:22 UTC

Catriona adopted every stray kitten and puppy (mostly of the human variety) that crossed her path. I was one of her "daughters" and I consider you to be one of my favorite sisters, to this day.

I remember the rack of mugs for tea, and the loving filling of them.

I remember that it was at her house that I first became aware of the tradition of the "Chinese" Christmas gift exchange.

Happy birthday, Mom.

choirlass September 19 2007, 05:48:24 UTC

In our new (to us) home, we have a shelf over the window in the dining room. I've put all of Mom's teacups, along with a teapot that DD got me for Mother's day one year on that shelf. Every day I look up and see those cups. It really makes the place feel like home.