This bit is just wonderful…”Listen to the word, feel it melt in your ear.
It begins with closed lips — all breath, all nose — then opens with a vowel and closes with a soft hum: mmmm.
It rhymes with bum, thumb, tum — parts of the body. It is a bodied word, after all — a mother nourishes life with her body, as she was once nourished by another’s.” Thanks also for sharing the link of mine. Xo
That was a whole lot of wisdom, experience and just plain great storytelling packed into your Mother’s Day reminiscing. My wife’s family operated a corner store while she was growing up. In the US the term for them is “mom-and-pops.” There was a great mom-and-pop hobby shop near the bowling alley where I bought most of my seventy-odd model ships. All these shops are gone now, in the name of “progress.” I hope your mom is well, and offer prayers for the shop owner’s wife. Can’t wait to try that breadstick recipe!
Dear Rafael, I love that your childhood corner shops were called ‘mom-and-pops’ — perhaps it reflects the kind of care and support you get when you visit. Do you still have your model shop collection? Mum is well and the shop owners wife is still with us, her cancer is in remission. We are grateful. Thank you for your kind thoughts and for reading my letter, it means so much. Sending wishes to you and your wife, Kate
Yes, I still have my model ships, and my 2500+ pulp fiction paperback collection as well. Thank you for asking. Some day I’ve got to post pictures of some of the old book covers from the 1940s and 1950s. I’ve been collecting for almost fifty years and I can sometimes tell who the artist was by the style or the models that were used. One artist used his wife as a model and she appears on the covers of literally dozens of my books. Sometimes I can make out a signature with a magnifying glass; my favorite artist was named Rudolph Belarski. Sending warm wishes and prayers for you and your family.
Such lovely writing Kate celebrating all who nurture life in homes and communities. You bring back memories of so many corner ships including our present one. I refuse to go into the big supermarkets. We get the shops and supermarkets we support!
Happy Birthday, the forties bring yourself and your life together 💞
Thank you Sally, buying locally in shops run by people on our community is wonderful for all. So glad you still have a corner store to enjoy. And thank you for the birthday wishes, I am very much looking forward to this next chapter of my life. :)
This bit is just wonderful…”Listen to the word, feel it melt in your ear.
It begins with closed lips — all breath, all nose — then opens with a vowel and closes with a soft hum: mmmm.
It rhymes with bum, thumb, tum — parts of the body. It is a bodied word, after all — a mother nourishes life with her body, as she was once nourished by another’s.” Thanks also for sharing the link of mine. Xo
Thanks Gillian x
That was a whole lot of wisdom, experience and just plain great storytelling packed into your Mother’s Day reminiscing. My wife’s family operated a corner store while she was growing up. In the US the term for them is “mom-and-pops.” There was a great mom-and-pop hobby shop near the bowling alley where I bought most of my seventy-odd model ships. All these shops are gone now, in the name of “progress.” I hope your mom is well, and offer prayers for the shop owner’s wife. Can’t wait to try that breadstick recipe!
Dear Rafael, I love that your childhood corner shops were called ‘mom-and-pops’ — perhaps it reflects the kind of care and support you get when you visit. Do you still have your model shop collection? Mum is well and the shop owners wife is still with us, her cancer is in remission. We are grateful. Thank you for your kind thoughts and for reading my letter, it means so much. Sending wishes to you and your wife, Kate
Yes, I still have my model ships, and my 2500+ pulp fiction paperback collection as well. Thank you for asking. Some day I’ve got to post pictures of some of the old book covers from the 1940s and 1950s. I’ve been collecting for almost fifty years and I can sometimes tell who the artist was by the style or the models that were used. One artist used his wife as a model and she appears on the covers of literally dozens of my books. Sometimes I can make out a signature with a magnifying glass; my favorite artist was named Rudolph Belarski. Sending warm wishes and prayers for you and your family.
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Jess ☺️
Wonderful reflections on motherhood and community, Kate. Beautifully written. And happy birthday! I hope you enjoy the Sydney Writers Festival.
Thanks for the birthday wishes Alia :)
Such lovely writing Kate celebrating all who nurture life in homes and communities. You bring back memories of so many corner ships including our present one. I refuse to go into the big supermarkets. We get the shops and supermarkets we support!
Happy Birthday, the forties bring yourself and your life together 💞
Thank you Sally, buying locally in shops run by people on our community is wonderful for all. So glad you still have a corner store to enjoy. And thank you for the birthday wishes, I am very much looking forward to this next chapter of my life. :)
"And I’m remembering the lines of a poem, Small Kindnesses5, by Danusha Laméris —
We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,
have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”
The whole piece is just exquisite and full of love and our humanity and Spirit all at once. Thank you! Bless you!!!
Thanks you dear Alicia, for reading and for your lovely comments here 🙏