I am 32 years old. By the time my mom was 32 years old, she had three kids- 8, 7, and 5. I can't even imagine that. Especially since at least once a week, Paul and I look at each other (as we lay on the couch watching Jeopardy) and say, "I'm so glad we don't have kids!" But that's what my mom wanted. So in a way, my mom and I are extremely different. But in some ways we are sooooooo the same. And I am glad! I got some of my best qualities from my mom! And here they are, in no particular order...
1. My laugh. Or should I say, my cackle. You will know if I am in the room due to my distinctive laugh, in which I totally inherited from my mom!
2. My determination. The only reason I can think of that I can be so determined is because of my mom's example. It seems she always had a project- whether it was opening a clothing store, running for mayor, or crocheting 1,000 hats a week.
3. Being my own person and not caring what people think of me. My mom taught me that. I was a little weird in middle and high school. Okay, a lot weird. But my mom always told me (whether it was through her words or her actions) that it was better to be ME and if other people didn't like it, then TOO BAD.
4. We talk REALLY loud. It is what it is.
4. We talk REALLY loud. It is what it is.
What qualities do you have in common with your mom?
I love this so much! Moms are truly special--our first loves.
ReplyDeleteI really miss my mom who passed away in 2005.
I share my optimism, my ability to talk to anyone, my love of good music and my love of beautiful Colorado w/ my mom. She was amazing. Oh, and we talk loud, too. We are Italian!!
Your mom says like she was a fun person and you got some great qualities from her! Thank you for sharing a little bit about her with us!
DeleteI wish I could say our excuse for talking like is that we're Italian. I can't even say I talk loud because I am a teacher. I have just always been LOUD.
Happy bday to your mom! How interesting that she opened a retail shop and ran for mayor! I love that!! I wonder what the experience of running for mayor was like? Was that after you were born?
ReplyDeleteShe definitely did some interesting things. Her store was called The Peach Blossom. It was a women's clothing store in our small little town. This was way back when people actually shopped at small businesses! I remember always wishing I was big/old enough to wear the clothes. Toward the end, I FINALLY started fitting in some of the things she got there but not a lot. I believe I was in 7th grade when she ran for mayor. All I remember is that no one was running against the guy that WAS running, and I guess my mom didn't like the candidate, so she decided to run herself. She was very involved in the town already because of her small business and being part of the Chamber of Commerce. I remember when she didn't win I was worried I would get made fun of the next day at school, and I did a little bit. But it wasn't my friends that made fun of me. It was just a couple random assholes.
DeleteKristina, I ran for Mayor in a Republican town. (Sounds like a book title.) I did not want to be the Mayor, but I didn’t want the only man on the ballot to be our Mayor. There was no one running against him. I tried to talk some folks into running, but no one wanted to. Everyone told me I should run. So, I thought I’d give it a shot.
DeleteI knew too much about this man from working with him on a board in our town. But I didn’t bring things up during the campaign because I didn’t want to be negative. Plus, I wasn't sure folks would believe me. He was involved in everything. One thing he did, he helped himself to some things he had no right to. Some folks would call it stealing. I figured folks would eventually see him for what he was, and eventually most folks did.
Running a write-in campaign isn’t easy. Folks are intimidated by the process. But I had a large poster at each polling entrance giving easy instructions on how to do it. I handed out pencils to anyone who needed one.
Your vote is supposed to be secret. But when you write-in a name, everyone knows you did by the noise the machine makes. I think that may have intimidated some folks into not writing in my name. When I looked at the number of folks who voted, and how many voted for Mayor, there were a lot who didn’t even cast a vote for the Mayoral position. So, either they didn’t like either one of us, or they were too intimidated to write my name in. I choose to think it was the latter : )
I did think I was going to win. But I was not upset that I didn’t. I lost by between 100 and 200 votes. I forget exactly how many.
I was told by some folks after the fact, that if I had been a member of a church, I would have won.
Here’s something I’m not sure I ever told Megan. I got a phone call one day at my shop, before the election. I can still hear the lady’s voice, and if I ever hear it again, I’d recognize it. She said she heard I was running for Mayor and she wanted to ask me a question. I should have asked her for her name first, but I didn’t. (When I call someone, I always give my name. I own it.)
So I said, what's your question. She asked me if I was an atheist. I was a bit surprised by her question (my opponent belonged to a church) but I responded, “I’m running for Mayor, not Pope.” That was her only question and she hung up. I imagine my opponent or his team had someone do that to intimidate me. It didn't.
I never knew Megan was worried about going to school after I lost. I wish I would have known.
That was my mom replying, not me! She asked me to copy paste it because she couldn't comment, she had to sign in or something...
DeleteThank you for sharing! I've never known anyone who ran for office so hearing a first hand account of the corruption and religion aspect was very interesting. I had never considered the writing in aspect either, that is troublesome and unfair. Thanks again for sharing and happy birthday! I hope you are having a great day!
DeleteOh and mom you did tell me about the atheist phone call!
DeleteHappy birthday to your mom! I'm a birth date nerd, and I always get jazzed about birthdays that are on the first or last day of a month. I just think that's so special for some reason.
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds pretty badass. I too am impressed and amazed she ran for mayor.
She is pretty bad ass! You like b-days on the first and last day of the month? Well wait until tomorrow's b-day shout out.... ;)
DeleteWell tomorrow is April Fools, so I must wait another day for you to confirm on April 2nd that the shout out was legit before I believe it ;)
DeleteOOH I love your skepticism!!
DeleteLove this, Megan! Happy Birthday to your mom!!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I have a lot in common as well – determination, type A, organized, athletic, more on the introverted side, caring, competitive… the list goes on. ☺ I feel like the older I get, the more I become my mother.
P.S. I love that you know who you are and that you don't care what other people think of you! I need more of this in my life.
It sounds like you got a lot of AWESOME qualities from your mom! I am sure you will pass them down to your baby. :)
DeleteI too feel like I am becoming my mother the older I get. And I have to say I definitely have weak moments, but deep down I know that it doesn't matter what other people think. Ya gotta do YOU.
You can always tell a mom is fabulous when her daughter is confident and self-sufficient. Happy birthday to your great mom!
ReplyDeleteMy mom and I talk really loud, especially on the phone. We're shouters!
Oh thank you, Ali!
DeleteMy mom and I shout on the phone too. I don't know why, we just get hype!
Oh, Happy Birthday to your Momma!!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you honored her today!
I try not to have much in common with my mom.
Uh oh. Your comment made me giggle though. :)
DeleteHappy Birthday to your mom!! I inherited all of the freckles on my face from my mom :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Mom! My moms birthday is on the day of the Boston Marathon this year so she will have to share the attention lol.
ReplyDeleteHahaha your poor mom!
DeleteAw I know. I was/am extremely lucky!
ReplyDelete