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Reason #327:
It’s almost 3am, and I am sitting up looking through old cards and notes about and from my mom, because that is something I do now. I just came across a note her friend Jeni wrote to me and my sisters shortly after she died. She had dropped it off on our doorstep without ringing the bell because she didn’t want to bother us while we were grieving, even though she wouldn’t have been bothering us at all.
The note was rolled up in a napkin ring my mom had given her almost two decades ago, and it reads in part:
“Nineteen years ago, your mom gave me placemats, napkins and napkin rings for my wedding. The blue ring encircling this paper is one of them. I will always remember her attention to detail and taking the time to always make things look a little nicer.
When we were over at your house for pizza a few weeks ago, I laughed when she put away the paper plates we brought and took out the nice ones. In so many ways she didn’t change…I have learned so much about parenting from her - I have learned that the details do count, and it is important to stop and take the time to use the real dishes.”
Jeni loved this about my mom and I did too.
I still have the napkin ring.
Hi there.
My name is Chris Kelly, and I am a writer, comedian and actor that lives in New York City. But more importantly, I am the son of a pretty great mom.
She was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago, and in June of 2009, I decided to start compiling a list of 365 Reasons Why I Love My Mother.
I lived with my mother her last few months, and during the hard, sad times, I found this website helpful in focusing on the good and the happy.
My mom passed away on September 27th, 2009. She was a lovely person to have known and a lovely mother to have had.
Here are just 365 reasons why.
Chris
christopherjameskelly@gmail.com
www.chriskelly.tumblr.com
