Musings on a Mother’s Day

Hope everyone enjoyed a blessed ,peaceful, appreciative ,loving Mother’s Day. Just as every day should be! We got up early and took the puppy for our daily stroll thorugh Gridley Park. It was so quiet and peaceful and might I add, clean, there this morning. Just some birds and squirrels and us.  After that we attended the eight o’clock Mass at Saint Andrew Church on 7th and Raspberry Streets. What a nice mass today! Deacon Ralph DeCecco gave a wonderful homily on the importance of Pentecost and the church’s birthday and it’s relevance in our lives today. Also, he shared a story about an email he had received from a friend with a thought that went something like~ May you wake in the morning and when you get out of bed and your feet hit the floor may the Devil say, “Shoot, not him or her again” Here to spread love and peace and goodness!” That spreading Peace begins with the individual and the Jewish greeting of “Shalom” has much more meaning than a simple ‘peace’ conveys,that mothers are examples of the Holy Spirit and messengers of peace.  It was touching and inspiring. I so appreciated that they took the time to mention those serving in the military in the intentions afterward. Of course, I could not hold back the tears as our son is deploying soon for the Middle East and of course, No Hanky!!!! Ugh!  Afterward the congregation was encouraged to purchase carnations for the mothers, in rememberance of mothers who have passed on, for future mothers… We got six of all different colors~deep violet, varigated red and white, pink,  and yellow. I know that each color has a significance but have forgotten the exact assignment of which color is in recognition of which type of motherhood. But that really isn’t the important point anyway.  We then shared some fellowship with old aquaintances and as it turned out Father Fialkowski, who presided over the mass, was a former priest from Mount Carmel - my mother-in-law’s parish! My, oh My God works in strange and wonderful ways at times. 

Then it was back to our house for coffee, tea, oatmeal cookies and conversation as we waited for the time to come to go to lunch at Anastasia’s Mansion at 551 West 8th St.  We took the time to persue old photo albums, reminisce about people we’ve lost, good times and laughs we’ve shared, how fast the children grew up moved out and have children of their own! It was good.  We kvetched about neighbors, the national and world state of affairs and many other topics. All this time, Cricket, our puppy lay in the back yard as my mother-in-law is clearly not an animal person. She is cat-sitting for my niece and I fear this cat may not survive this experience. But she was clearly afraid of Cricket [who jumps and gets pretty exuberant about meeting new people]. So for the peace-of-mind of all involved Cricket spent some time out of doors! She didn’t seem to mind too awfully much.  I find it so strange to accept that some people cannot love animals. I guess, it is because I had oodles of pets all my life. They bring so much to your life~companionship, faithfulness, comfort, love… Oh Well, C’est La Vie.

So, at 1130 a.m. we went for the first seating at the Mansion for Mother’s Day Buffet. The ambiance was wonderful. Clean linen napkins and table clothes of deep violet topped with white lace doilies and china. Old time charm and decor. If you like Victorian times, please stop there. It is too much to describe right now.  We were the first diners to arrive and were greeted at the door by the owner, Mr. Doug Orlosky. He ushered us in and we took photos of the family surrounded by the 1800s atmosphere. After being seated our hostess came and introduced herself and explained how the buffet would be served and took our requests for water and tea.  The food was spectacular. There was beef stroganoff, ham, cheddar stuffed meatloaf, chicken and home made drop biscuits, sweet potato souffle, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pierogies, fresh green and yellow beans, maple syrup honey glazed carrots, broccoli sald, green tossed salad, red pepper/potato soup, homecooked chicken noodle soup, butterfly rolls and the desserts!!!!! ~ raspberry layer cake, pumpkin mousse cheesecake, black forest cake, apple strudels, double chocolate cheesecake, homemade chocolate chip cookies, macademia cookies, and cranberry walnut cookies!!! All I can say is M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m!  Delicious.  Afterward, we had the chance to speak with Mr. Orlosky and learn about the house and the antique photographs on the walls and tour the upstairs. Beautiful architecture, woodwork, chandeliers, everything.  They serve dinners on Fridays and Saturday evenings by reservation and they can count on us to return!

When we got back to our home, we visited for a bit longer and then our guests left and we took Cricket for another walk around the neighborhood. Then I took a short nap and my husband watched Tombstone on DVD.  While we were gone we missed a call for our son.  Played phone tag with him today. But he relayed his wishes of Happy Mother’s Day on the answering machine and he had his own family in Kansas to entertain so that was all right with me.  His love is the one rock solid thing in this life that I know I can count on.  I don’t need to hear it on the special occasions as I feel it all year long.  But it was nice he took the time to call even so.

So here it is, ten thirty in the evening and I am perusing the erieblogs and web for news and just wanted to share my thoughts on the day.

Shalom everyone. Peace be with you.   Happy Mother’s Day 2008.