Time for Mom

Walking out today along the Martinez Pier with my bag of rose petals that I planned to scatter in memory of my mom, I felt a little unsure. I was out of my comfort zone. Of course, I usually think that's exciting because there's a growth opportunity in those moments of uncertainty, and that growth is all about knowing yourself.

I'm walking down the pier and see an older gentleman sitting on the pier holding a can of something that had a paper bag around it. Life isn't perfect and we are all here just trying to do the best we can. I thought that spot would be a good place to scatter the rose petals. So I reach into my purse, grabed a handful and said... Wait, what do I say? "Hi mom!" "It's really windy here today." I smelled the flowers and they smelled of the sweetness of life. A flood of memories came over me, like the time my brother bought my mom this lovely sea green skirt and matching blouse to wear on mother's day. The blouse was fitted and showed my mom’s great figure. It was sedate for her, but she looked beautiful. I felt so proud of her and when we went out for brunch as a family, it was one of the best times we ever had together.  With the rose petals in my hand I said, "I'm thinking about you mom, and I wish you all the best." I tossed them and a big gust of wind blew them all over the pier.

I laughed thinking, of course, this wasn't the right spot! Walking down a little more I found another spot at the end of the pier. I grabbed another handful of petals, smelled them, and into the water they went. They were really beautiful slowly falling into the water and then floating there, white against green. Like the pearls my mom wore with the sea green blouse and skirt one Mother’s Day long ago. I took a couple pictures of the petals. Rose petals and the sweetness of life: I shared them today with my mom. It was a good Mother's Day.