Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Band Wagon


I believe I am a particularly old-fashioned sort of person because I had a mother who was always on The Band Wagon. It was as though my mother saw her life as a Kaleidoscope always needing to be tilted. There wasn't a day I didn't come home from school that I wouldn't find my mother entranced by the trend of the moment.


There were the days my brother and I would only eat oranges because my mother was on the Cabbage Soup Diet that was to transform her perfectly plump familiarity into a svelte carpooling Mom we wouldn't recognize.


There were weeks I would press my ear to the front door before entering hoping the strains of "What's New Pussy Cat" had already faded away. I couldn't bear to hear another commentary on the number of middle aged women who had swooned themselves to the ground upon hearing this song.


But the worst by far were counting the days until the "Happy Hooker" left our end tables to travel to the next mother on The Band Wagon. Curiosity drew me to it's cover again and again, a Bobwhite Spend the Night left us giggling about the unknown.


Our mother's adventurous personality often spilled over onto my brother and I. We lived in fear of coming home from school to find new "outfits" left on our beds. My poor brother took to hiding alternate clothing in his book bag to change into behind the neighbors hedge. Silky shirts with pointy collars, maroon bell bottoms that hugged the hips. It never occurred to us to rebel as so many of our peers did. We embraced any measure of conformity as a flailing swimmer would a preserver.


At the end of my mother's days on this earth, her spirit was not bound by the constraints of her physical body. She infused in those around her the energy of her will and her curiosity to experience what lay ahead. I know that in Heaven my mother is as she was with us, the breath of possibility when you dare to lead the way.


Please, for personal use only.



29 comments:

angiegodinez said...

I enjoy your blog posts all the time but have never posted a comment. However, upon seeing the most darling pink felt elephant this morning, i have to ask if you are going to post one of your templates on how to construct this sweet creature! I would love to make one for my brothers first child to be born in November. I often look at your creations and am amazed but have yet to try my own hand at one. But this elephant is just so so cute!

Debby said...

What a adorable little parade. Love the pink and that elephant is stinkin cute.
Your stories always amaze me. Keep them coming.

Unknown said...

I love the elephant he is adorable and look to be having a wonderful time. As always your message in your post just comes at the right time in my day. Lately I have been in a creative funk along with a general Texas Hot Summer funk, but when I visit your site I see something or reading something that get my mind working again whether it be a creation or the remembrance of a mother who was larger than life. When I was young I would take my tape recorder along with my roller skates outside to the street and play “What’s New Pussy Cat” as I choreographed a roller skating dance, that along with “The Lady is a Tramp” my mother would come outside to watch my performance. You help spark memories of my mother that are buried deep in my mind because she started to get sick when I was in my early teens, but like your mom she was a leader of her own band wagon. Plus I loved the Happy Hooker book my dad had it hidden in bathroom, which I found. So thank you for your wonderful stories they are uplifting and harken back to the true spirit we should all possess.

Ina said...

lovely. just lovely. think how courageous she was. i would have loved to meet her. ;p

RetroSandie said...

Loved your story, E! My Mom used to be quite "with it", too. Whatever was new and "in" that came along-she was all for it! LOL Now-I'm in love with that pink elephant.....he is so cute and happy looking! You DO make the cutest creatures! Pattern please?
Hugs,
Sandie

Unknown said...

Well written Elizabeth! You have such a good memory about your childhood and Mom. I LOVE your ink party creations!

Your witch hat swap partner :)

Sandy xoxo

Unknown said...

Dear Angie, Yes! There will be a pattern in place by this afternoon. Thank you so very much for taking a moment of your day to spend here with me! Elizabeth

~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

Love your sweet little elephant and the others too! Hope you have a happy day! xo Holly

Shirley Hatfield said...

My mother's diets ran the gamut from the grapefruit diet to the kelp-cider vinegar-lecithin diet. I love these little vignettes and stories from your past. Like another commenter mentioned, you helped me to recall another memory of my mother...Thanks! I loved the whole pink parade, but I yelped out loud when I saw that party hat! It is a birthday party personified! =D

Jennifer Bontrager said...

What a cute little parade. Its funny I think the things that iritate us the most about people we love is what we miss the most when they are gone.

Musings from Kim K. said...

I'm wiping away a tear or two. With the recent passing of my beloved Aunt this week, I'm fully embracing all those special memories that help bind our family. A beautiful post, Elizabeth.

Unknown said...

Love your leader of the pack!! What a great person your mom was...so comfortable in herself!!

Chris

My Vintage Mending said...

So many thanks for the beautiful images of your mother's boundless energy. I am such a rule follower I think I might have squeezed all the fun out of life sometimes. This pink elephant is darling...smiles...Renee

JLVerde said...

Oh, that elephant is just so fabulous! I'm adding it to my "must craft" pattern collection.

Thank you for sharing your stories and the templates for your cute creations!

busymartha said...

You tell such a vivid story! Enjoy reading them E. Love your elephant and the rest of the gang. Always love your posts, Marilyn.

Tammy's in Love said...

Hey Lady! Isn't your birthday in September!? It looks like the gang is all ready for a party there, pretty in pink!

Dorothy Prudie Vintage said...

What a lovely post. It is funny, I never questioned my mother on what she made me wear even though she always stuck my in "itchy" polyester because it didn't have to be ironed...ugh. Thanks so much for sharing the patterns. I have to make the clock...it is my true favorite of yours....until I saw the pink birthday cake...lol. So, I have to make two now.

Anonymous said...

It's a PINK day at Creative Breathing! Such a cute parade!

Your narative today set me giggling! The home made clothes, The Happy Hooker (my mom would never had read that but I did!)

And speaking of pussy cats- Oh my goodness! When I was a girl, it made me sick watching "moms" on TV throw their underwear at a sweaty Tom Jones signing that song! Ugh! I still shudder when I think of him! Ha!

Well, my mom wasn't trendy at all and one of her pet peeves was women who dressed younger than their years. She would probably roll her eyes at me if she were here today! Hee-hee!

Thanks for sharing and have a great day! ♥

craftyles said...

All the link is so cute. The little elephant takes the cake! He's just darling and one of my favorites of your creations.Your post brings back memories of my Mom and her fully sequined dress, that she wore to fancy party. I wish I had it now!She was a little like your mom.

LBP said...

After reading these comments, I think we all had the same mom! My mom was very trendy as well. How well I remember the "cabbage soup diet" ugh! The house smelled for weeks. Mom's guilty pleasure was "Peyton Place" remember that old nightime soap opera? I wasn't allowed to watch. And she loved Tom Jones too.

Love the pink elephant and his gang! Cute as can be.

Blessings

Linda

Celestial Charms said...

Oh Dearest E,
Our mothers both seemed to be "larger than life," however mine was super conservative in her ways of dress, thought, and actions. No fad diets, new clothing styles, or anything remotely "risque." I, on the other hand, relished being a rebel, and always had a devil may care attitude. For example, as a child, my mom gave me two knee length, fake fur winter coats to wear to school, which to me looked like old-lady style coats, so....I ripped off all the buttons, and said I wouldn't wear them. Terrible, I know! I just died inside, thinking if I wore them, everyone would laugh at me. :(
However, if I had liked them, I wouldn't care what the other kids thought. :)
Anyway, based on their personalities, you probably would have adored my mom, as much as I know I would have adored yours.
Love your pink Elephant.
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
Maureen

RetroSandie said...

Thank you, E, for posting the pattern!!! I looked for it, but I guess I didn't look hard enough!!! Thanks again!!! :)
Sandie

Pieceful Bits said...

I love the your pink elephant. That is a given:) A sweet little neighborhood girl that is now grown up is having twin girls early this winter. I think 2 are in order for package toppers. I just can't stand how cute they are!!!! Perhaps one for myself too.
I love your mom story. (~~) Julie

Cheryl said...

Super cute Elephant :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi, Elizabeth! I hope you're havign a wonderful Saturday morning! I'm having a cleaning day if my back will let me.

I sent you an e mail just now. I know my e mails to you don't always get through so I wanted to mention it here to make sure you get it. ♥

Lesa said...

I'm joining the crowd in saying how much I love your parade! And your story of your family "parade leader". Isn't it lovely how a specific "creature" will be mentioned by different people. Well, I have two today: the elephant (of course!) and the cake. Is there a pattern for the cake? Could you post where I could find it? Thanks from a constant reader who loves your blog but doesn't comment enough.

Irina said...

very nice beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

This is an old post but I just discovered it. I love your stuff and your stories I'm so happy to meet you and thank you for being so generous with your patterns I cant wait to make them Bev

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