Making Memories With Mom

About two months now has passed since I walked through the old house at 1422 Elliott Street in Regina.

I had knocked on the door and no one answered. The door was open so I called and asked if anyone was home. As the door swung open a little you could see the results of the fire that had taken place and someone had tried in vane to clean it up. It was sad. A feeling of heaviness swept over me for a bit and then it was replaced with fascination. I was standing in a piece of my history that went back so many years old. We had left this little house over 50 years ago to move into a better home.

As I clicked through the photos the other day I was warmed again with the things I had captured that day. But the photos only caught the scene and the house of 2007. There is so much more.

As I stared at the screen I could see more. Out beside the hedge was mom’s old car sitting. Dad had been able to buy her an Austin. Not the Mini Minor that was to gain popularity but rather an older simpler model – ugly green in colour. I have slipped a photo I found of an Austin Morris (not having the time to get the real photo out yet).

The car was mom’s joy – freedom on her own.

One particular day she asked me to help her wash her car. Out beside the little house at 1422 Elliott we prepared to wash the car. Pails and cloths were all you needed. Some soap in the pail of water would do and then the hose that was attached to the faucet outside the house. My task was to hose down the car.

Accidentally – I sprayed mom – just a little bit… honestly. That was when she told me to give her the hose. I said no… because I knew the possibility of getting wet. The words went on for a little bit… she demanding me to give her the hose and me resisting. That was when I remember the laughter so well. Soap flew as she threw the wet cloth at me. At that moment I did the unthinkable – I turned the hose on my mother and soaked her. She chased me around the car to get the hose. I dropped the weapon and ran. As I turned she was demanding that I come back to help her. I did and then she soaked me. Laughter was what it was all about that day… the car wash was secondary.

So many memories – so many.

Today my mom lives with us.

After the move to Peterborough it has been very hard for mom to adjust. The loss of all her friends in her apartment building has been greater than an actual death. The grieving process is what we are facing together. I know that it has been hard for her.

Yesterday I was washing the van in our driveway and then followed by washing down the driveway. I was lost on thought as I cleaned up. It was then that I felt the tug on the hose. I looked around and there was my 86 year old mother pulling on the hose with a smile on her face… trying to get my attention. She had just completed a long walk with her new walker.

Both of us have much older bodies now. I would not spray her with the hose any longer – even if we were washing her new walker. And for sure – I couldn’t run from her any longer even if I tried. Her shoulder hurts these days and she couldn’t throw a wet cloth at me either. Lots has changed. We both are slower now. But the smile is still there. Together we will work on the problems of facing each day.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom.

~ Your son – Murray ~