| Summertime Memories |
Why do some seasons remind us of certain people? Each summer, I can’t help but think of my mother. Although
she’s been gone for almost seven years now, Mother still comes to mind during the summer months, especially
on her birthday and her wedding anniversary, which falls on my birthday.
Vacations. I also remember Mother as we plan our summer vacations every year. In fact, we spent all of our
family vacations for years traveling from Arkansas to Southeast Texas to celebrate our birthdays and spend time
near Galveston with Mother and my Texas family.
Holidays. Not many special events—like Mothers’ Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas—go by without fond
memories of my mother. Sometimes those thoughts come like a gentle wind, and other times they still surprise
me like a Texas thunderstorm.
Very few holidays passed in my life without mother being involved in some way. And even though we lived
hundreds of miles away from her for over two decades, she was always intimately involved in my family’s life until
her untimely death a few years ago.
Connection. Mother kept our family connected, when we moved away with our families. Even when we were
annoyed by her pressure to share holidays, she remained a unifying force in our family. She kept us up-to-date
with family news, and I miss that connection now.
Since Mother’s death, I do not take the time to regularly visit my extended family. But we still stay in touch by
phone, e-mail, and Internet social networks now. I think Mother would be pleased with our “Facebooks”!
Roots. Memories of Mother continue to connect us all to our Texas roots and family. One summer, Mother talked
our entire family into renting a beach cabin together. My husband, Dan, and I endured six nights, sleeping in a
steamy, hot beach cabin loft with cigarette smoke drifting upstairs, irritating our allergies, and three teenagers
giggling and arguing. The trip convinced us all to resist any more of mother’s vacation ideas that included the
whole family under one roof. I think even Mother agreed with that decision!
A few days ago, I journeyed back to Texas with my daughter, Tara, and her two youngest children for a special
family celebration. During the trip, Tara and I laughed and cried about some of our Texas memories. And as we
endured the triple-digit temperature and 100% humidity, the stories of our dreadful beach vacation brought great
memories about the impact my mother had on our lives.
she’s been gone for almost seven years now, Mother still comes to mind during the summer months, especially
on her birthday and her wedding anniversary, which falls on my birthday.
Vacations. I also remember Mother as we plan our summer vacations every year. In fact, we spent all of our
family vacations for years traveling from Arkansas to Southeast Texas to celebrate our birthdays and spend time
near Galveston with Mother and my Texas family.
Holidays. Not many special events—like Mothers’ Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas—go by without fond
memories of my mother. Sometimes those thoughts come like a gentle wind, and other times they still surprise
me like a Texas thunderstorm.
Very few holidays passed in my life without mother being involved in some way. And even though we lived
hundreds of miles away from her for over two decades, she was always intimately involved in my family’s life until
her untimely death a few years ago.
Connection. Mother kept our family connected, when we moved away with our families. Even when we were
annoyed by her pressure to share holidays, she remained a unifying force in our family. She kept us up-to-date
with family news, and I miss that connection now.
Since Mother’s death, I do not take the time to regularly visit my extended family. But we still stay in touch by
phone, e-mail, and Internet social networks now. I think Mother would be pleased with our “Facebooks”!
Roots. Memories of Mother continue to connect us all to our Texas roots and family. One summer, Mother talked
our entire family into renting a beach cabin together. My husband, Dan, and I endured six nights, sleeping in a
steamy, hot beach cabin loft with cigarette smoke drifting upstairs, irritating our allergies, and three teenagers
giggling and arguing. The trip convinced us all to resist any more of mother’s vacation ideas that included the
whole family under one roof. I think even Mother agreed with that decision!
A few days ago, I journeyed back to Texas with my daughter, Tara, and her two youngest children for a special
family celebration. During the trip, Tara and I laughed and cried about some of our Texas memories. And as we
endured the triple-digit temperature and 100% humidity, the stories of our dreadful beach vacation brought great
memories about the impact my mother had on our lives.
© 2011 Karen Barnes Jordan. All rights reserved.
Photo © Karen Barnes Jordan.
Photo © Karen Barnes Jordan.
| Karen Barnes Jordan is best known for telling the stories that matter most. She has multiple writing credits and trains other writers as well. Karen and her husband, Dan, live in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where they enjoy spending time with their children and seven grandchildren. Contact Karen for speaking events, writing assignments, and interviews at kj@karenjordan.net or visit www.karenjordan.net. |
