Random thoughts on a Mother's Day

[pjthompson]

I was reading the opening page of The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and I thought, “Wow, that's uncomfortably familiar.”



Late last week before last I tripped over a case of cat food on the floor (Oh the irony! The Instacart shopper got the wrong one, stuff fussy Ginger won't eat) and had a bad fall. I crashed through the kitchen door, into the fridge, and landed on my back on the floor. I was SO lucky not to have gotten more than bumps and bruises and humiliation. But I spent several days convalescing and contemplating the folly—of my household arrangements, among other things. Since recovering I've been trying to get things off the floor and moving with extreme caution. Not for the first time I've thought that I do not envy those who have to clean out this place when I croak.

This dovetailed with an article I read yesterday about artist Francis Hines whose life work was thrown into a dumpster when he died. (Happy ending: someone who recognized it came along ahead of the trash collectors and saved it.)

Our posterity as artists is often left to those who don't appreciate the urge to do art and think it's all just a bunch of junk. And maybe it is. But it's also difficult, when you reach a certain age, to realize your life's work may end up in a dumpster. I'd like to think my life meant more than a waste of oxygen and resources. I know I'm not alone in this feeling but it is one of the hazards of having no family.

I don't think "legacy keepers" is ever a valid excuse to have children (and no guarantee that will work out for you, anyway). The only valid reason to have children is because you really want them, and I never did. I like kids quite a lot, just never thought I had the talent for raising them. And those are my Mother's Day thoughts. Gods bless all those who had the desire for kids and the talent and drive and patience and willingness to not only raise them but center their lives around making them good human beings. O Heroic Ones, I salute you!

Comments

[sartorias]

And there is no guaranteeing even when you have kids that they won't dumpster all your work.

[pjthompson]

Exactly.

[wayfaringwordhack]

I read this post to Sprout to make sure she doesn't dump mine. But at this point in her life, she is my tiger, fighting in my corner to make sure *I* don't dumpster things. :P

[pjthompson]

🤣 Go, Sprout, go!

[wayfaringwordhack]

That fall sounds scary-ouchie. Glad you are getting better. I recently twisted my ankle and felt how privileged I was to have J and the kids help take care of things. I have had bad sprains before that didn't get better fast because I was forced to DO all the time.

[pjthompson]

It was scary and I had several very owie days but I was very lucky not to have been hurt worse. It's been kind of a wake up call to reduce hazards in the house.😊