Mama was thinking yesterday as she combed out her just-washed hair that various friends have given her advice over the years that changed the way she did things. For example, when she combs out her very long hair, she remembers that a friend said to get the knots out of the ends first and then when you comb from the scalp, it will make a difficult job easier. And it works! Mama combs out MY ends first and everything else follows…of course, all I have are ends so it’s pretty simple.
Then, the other day in the garden, her next door neighbor pointed out that there were what are called “gourmandes” in French—suckers that grow between two branches off the main stems of a tomato plant, and these suckers do just that: suck out all the energy that ought to be going to the tomato flowers that then become tomatoes. Mama had completely forgotten this year to “sucker” her plants and so he saved the tomatoes from being little pipsqueak nothings and instead will become half-kilo somethings!
And every time there is a little chore to do around the house or something has dropped on the floor or a light bulb needs changing—all those little things that houses present as minor but irritating problems—mama does it RIGHT THEN. Her mama was one of those “never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today” kind of mamas, and my mama says, “Just imagine, Loulou, if I let every little piece of food or splash of tomato sauce just stay where it fell in the kitchen, we’d be living in poubelle (garbage can) land within a week!” Besides, mama says, when it’s done, it doesn’t need doing, and I like that. Especially when it’s dinner time.
And the things papa has taught mama over the years would take up most of a lifetime to be counted. Papa sees things from a different angle almost all the time and usually from an angle that mama has not thought to consider. They are pretty well-matched that way and mama has learned to look for a different point of view when searching for an answer to a question or problem instead of the one that just pops into her head but may not work as well as another.
Mama calls these things gifts from her friends and family.
And of course, there is MY contribution. I have taught mama skills in finding lost objects (i.e. me), the patience to wait calmly while I decide whether to go in or out of an open door that needs to be shut so that the air conditioning does not get out or the cold, in, and I have taught mama how to simplify her life and be calm when anxieties threaten to disrupt the status quo. All with just a one-touch solution.
Touch me.
And that hair has no tangles either….
Papa uses me sometimes for relaxation, too…
Wow, that’s a lot of learning for your mom. And we think you did the best teaching of all. Those things are important! 🙂
Mama keeps thinking of things friends and family have taught her and the list got so long, she decided to just remember them and use them and not list them.