And I Remember Mama

The caption read - "Co-ed 1931" - which meant Mom was 18 and going to the teacher's college at Normal, Illinois. Gladys Parker.

Mom is holding her great-granddaughter and wearing the photo button.

A generation or two may recall the TV series, "I Remember Mama," and its introduction.

This old album makes me remember so many things in the past. San Francisco and the house on Steiner Street where I was born. It brings back memories of my cousins, aunts and uncles; all the boys and girls I grew up with. And I remember my family as we were then. My big brother Nels, my little sister Dagmar, and of course, Papa. But most of all, when I look back to those days so long ago, most of all, I remember ... Mama.

The TV series came from the movie, which was derived from the play, which came from the short story "Mama's Bank Account."

Christina and I watched the movie again last night. My classmates and friends remind me of how much they enjoyed my mother as a teacher, one of those rare vocations where someone can have generation after generation of children. The Moline teachers talked about "my children" in their classes, not "my students." Garfield Grade School had equally talented and loving teachers - except for one psycho, the only one I was allowed to imitate at home. They were family friends as well, so we saw little Liz Copeland when she came along with her mother for meetings at our house. Mrs. Copeland and my mother were equally admired and still elicit memories from the past.

Mother's Day reminds me of her talents -

1. She taught phonetics, which meant we were good readers from the start.
2. She read stories to us at home. Lassie Come Home had my sister bawling her eyes out at the climax. I just gave Sir Archibald by Wolo to Andrea's parents to read to her (and Wolo's Amanda).
3. She canned food in the early days, before teaching used up her time.
4. She gathered wool scraps and made decorated carpeting for the house.
5. She taught Sunday School, like many other teachers, even though she taught all week.
6. Playing baseball at school, she reminded the boys she played outfield without a glove. She scoffed at the idea of wearing one.
7. Growing up on the farm gave her a lot of strength. The wildest kid could not intimidate her or escape the march - or rather the drag - to the principal's office.
8. She seemed to know all plants, weeds, birds, and crops. I told her, "We need Shepherd's Purse for the rabbits, but I can't find it." She took me to one part of our yard and said, "Plenty right there." 
9. Organized - every one of the books in her library had the published review marked and taped into the front. The same was true of everything she stored.

Christina and I enjoyed having her in our home in New Ulm and Phoenix. She went through the phase of angry, bossy, and confused - then became quite mellow. She refused to have satellite TV in her room, but loved having Animal Planet on 24/7. 

We have many wonderful memories and wonder why so many - in their pride and selfishness - refuse to enjoy the same today.

I remember Mom reading this to us and reminding us, when we were frustrated, "That is to teach you patience," a memorable point in the book.