I have written about my mother often here. You have seen photos of her, read stories about her. Intentionally, I have paid tribute to her on Motherβs Days past. Here is a sampling:
Bedtime Stories and Wooden Blocks and Beads
My First Mother’s Day after her Death
My Mother Loved to Cook and She Loved to Eat
Making sandwiches from Baum’s bologna

Mother slicing pig stomach with baked corn and a stick of butter close by
Mother at Christian Women luncheon in Mt. Joy, PA

Mom at Gigi’s Ice Cream Shop Β Β Bainbridge, PA
Peggy Rowe, has written a memoir titled About My Mother, hot off the press.
A cross between Erma Bombeck and Betty White, Peggy stamps mid-20th century small-town life with her brand of nostalgia. If you fancy reading about . . .Β
- A horse-crazy daughter and her baseball-obsessed mother
- Games of tiddly winks and hopscotch
- Throwing tomatoes at passing cars, a lapse in manners
- A mother in a wheel chair undressing down to her brassiere in the lingerie department at Macy’s.
. . . this is the book for you!
Choice lines: “Jim’s 1950 chartreuse convertible with leopard skin seat covers stood out in our dull, middle-class neighborhood like a belly dancer at an Amish funeral.”
The book is selling like hotcakes. It doesn’t hurt that the author’s son is Mike Rowe of the TV series, Dirty Jobs and Somebody’s Gotta Do It.
***
Your memories of mother (or perhaps a mother figure) welcome here!
What a lovely tribute to your mother, Marian. I really enjoyed the photos. Memories of my mother are bittersweet. Although she’s still with us, the mother I knew has slipped away, but she will always remain my biggest supporter and best friend. Happy Mother’s Day!
Your mother has seen you begin and flourish in your writing career. I’m glad you got to observe her joy. Maybe in her lucid moments, she still “knows” some of that. I think the word “bittersweet’ describes your relationship right now. You know I can empathize – not with a mother in this situation, but with my aunt. Thank you, Jill.
Good morning, Marian! Jill beat me here, but I agree with what she says about this lovely tribute and photos. And of course, I’ve read the things about your mother that you’ve shared with me. Even though it’s 7 AM, I’m craving ice cream now from seeing that photo of your mom with her ice cream. π
My mom has not slipped away entirely, but she’s faded, and she’s definitely not the woman she was, which is so sad.
Have you ever put a dollop of ice cream on your morning cereal? I have! Once after we sisters had breakfast with Mom, she smiled in her bashful way pulling out a Hershey bar, “Maybe it’s time for a little chocolate.”
I’m sorry your mother is fading, but you and your family continue to include her in your gatherings. Maybe she cannot “register” it all, she can still recognize that you are honoring her. Thanks, Merril!
I bet you enjoyed that cereal, Marian! π And that’s so sweet–in several ways–about your mom and the chocolate.
My mom knows where she is and generally what’s going on, but her memory is not reliable, and since she can’t see well, she also misses visual clues, can’t see the calendar, clock, etc.
π
I am sorry your mother is not around any more, but I am sure you will have a treasure of happy memories of the time you shared. It looks like she had a long and happy life.
I hope you’ll still have a lovely day with your children and grandchildren.
My mum used to say that Mother’s Day is everyday. Enjoy each day with your loved ones.
Yes, she had a long and happy life, dying just after her 96th birthday. Our son has invited us over for dinner at his house on Sunday, something to look forward to.
I like your mother’s saying, Fatima. Thanks for checking in again today!
Have a lovely time on Sunday with your son and family. π
We know how much you loved/love her, Marian. I identify with Merril’s description of her mother right now. We are going to celebrate her as a family at the Mother’s Day Buffet at Landis Homes this Sunday. Your mother is enjoying an even better one. Blessings.
Recently I’ve heard this “fading” defined as ambiguous loss, which sounds like an accurate description for both generations. I am sorry your mother and family are experiencing this now. We have always known this earth is not our permanent home, but since we have never experienced life in another dimension, it’s hard to imagine how glorious it will be.
Yes, my mother is enjoying life eternal. I’m glad your family will gather for a buffet at Landis Homes. Your mother will enjoy that! π
I have always loved the stories about your dear mother. I am fortunate i still have my mom and we can share memories when we get together. Happy Mother’s Day to you as you have stepped into your mother’s shoes. xo
You are the first one to mention that I have stepped into my mother’s shoes, but so I have (in a measure.) I’m glad you still have your mother and I know you appreciate that. Thanks, Darlene!
I enjoyed your tribute to and your photos of your mother, Marian. Mother’s Day must seem bittersweet.
Congrats to Peggy Rowe on her memoir!
My mom lives a thousand miles away. She also loves baseball. My brother takes her to games. It’s hard to watch her getting older, and seeing that she’s not able to do as much as she used to do. She goes to church and to Bible study. She still loves Vienna sausages in a can. π
Thank you for describing your mother as she is now. The Vienna sausage item made me smile. π
I believe your mom would like Peggy Rowe’s book, an easy read. Thanks, L. Marie!
This past Saturday marked the 23rd anniversary of my mother’s physical passing. Like others have commented, we lost her mentally to Alzheimer’s and dementia over 10 years earlier. She and I always had a very rocky relationship; I was her “challenging child”, a label coined early on. Her good friend Cay was more of a mother figure to me, which was fine with me.
You are probably not the only reader here with a strong mother figure. Thank God for people like Cay, who stand in the gap. Thanks for another thought-provoking comment, Ginger. π
What lovely photos. Thanks so much for sharing. On this mother’s day, I am thinking of my great grandmother. My father passed away this week at age 100 years. I was honored to read a poem written by my great grandmother. How wonderful to have a legacy of strength and love bless you from generations past. Ann Bomberger Watson
It’s nice to see you here again. My condolences to you on the death of your father. I assume the poem your read at his service was written by his grandmother. Yes, we are fortunate to have a legacy of strength and love. Thanks again, Ann.
I always enjoyed Erma Bombeckβs humour! My mother was a bit more reserved, especially with her children, but her grandchildren always relate with glee how they could make her laugh and how she would cover her mouth so as not to show it, but her eyes would be dancing with glee!
“Eyes dancing with glee” is so expressive.
It’s funny (and strange) how our forebears repressed their humour. On my mother’s side, especially, humour was regarded as somehow wrong, a waste of time. Yet my uncles didn’t mind acting goofy when they were together, letting off steam after dinner on a Sunday. Thanks, Elfrieda!
I like your little poem. Very true. We got to visit my mother just weeks ago at Easter and we hope to see her near her 95th birthday in July. I know I’m lucky to still have her, and have her in her right mind! Just can’t hear much. π Hope your weekend is a delight.
I’m glad you like the poem. I’m not a poet, and I know it! I think the words are mostly right, but the rhythm is a little “off”! Having an almost-95-year-old mother in her right mind is rare – and precious! Thanks for the good wishes. The same to you, Melodie!
Wonderful, Marian! Is Gigi’s ice cream shop still there?
This photo with Mother was taken several years ago, but I did a Google search and found that the Lancaster Bicycle Club will tour from Columbia to Bainbridge this weekend and hang out at GiGi’s Ice Cream Shop. Details here: https://www.meetup.com/Lancaster-Bicycle-Club/events/261003580/
The shop itself doesn’t seem to have a website. I hope that helps, Jack!
A bonus for Jack or anyone else in the area, a Google maps closeup of route to GiGi’s on South 2nd Street. No, I get paid no commission! π
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/265+Anchor+Road,+Elizabethtown,+PA/GiGi's+Ice+Cream+Bar,+South+2nd+Street,+Bainbridge,+PA/@40.1113066,-76.6647347,13z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c898e2b0a56135:0x94da362436eabc6d!2m2!1d-76.5827993!2d40.1361049!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c890c6f4899493:0xaa61d179a4357dfc!2m2!1d-76.667837!2d40.090831
Your mom looks happy and proud (and maybe a little bit mischievous?) in those photos, Marian. Iβm humbled by the love you have and share for her. And, isnβt that ice cream store featured in you memoir? Happy Motherβs Day on Sunday (itβs the same day in Belgium this year) and enjoy your time with your family.
V
My mom is luckily still around, but I only see her once a year, maximum. When we are house sitting I Skype my parents once a week. Since they will be away this weekend, Iβll wish her a happy Motherβs Day tomorrow. π
You are right about the ice cream store in my story, but I think this is a different one. At least it has a different name and decorated with a Fifties theme (Think Elvis!). Anyway, the location wouldn’t quite match my memoir because it was too far from the tomato field. Besides, Nagel’s was more of a general store, not just an ice cream shop. Good memory, Liesbet!
I’m glad you can visit your mom occasionally and keep in touch with her via Skype. I’m sure she is proud of you, especially your writing career. π
Haha, youβre sweet and funny! I wouldnβt quite call my writing a career as 1) Iβm barely making money (with my articles), and 2) I have yet to publish a book. π
Not a day goes by that I donβt think of my mother. I see myself in her in many ways which I suppose is hardly surprising. Iβm glad I have loving and mostly happy memories of her. Happy motherβs day Marian to you on Sunday πΊ
To you as well, Susan. I’m glad your mother still lives in your memory and perhaps in your attitudes and actions too as you describe.
Best wishes too for the upcoming elections; a good outcome we hope!
Happpy Mother’s Day to you Marian. That sandwich Aunt Ruth is making with that homemade Baums bologna looks so good. My Mother has been gone 38 years. I have lived longer without my Mother than I have lived with her. I don’t know where the years go. I still think about her and Dad everyday.
It’s so good to see you here, Gerry! I listed the bologna as Baum’s, but Jean contacted me to say she thought the bologna came from farmer Mel Longenecker, one of the “freindschaft” who made homemade bologna after Baum’s in Elizabethtown closed. I think she’s right. Your mother was a marvelous seamstress. She worked magic with her needle!
Yes, I think of Mom and Mark every day, since they died more recently than Daddy. I have their pictures just inside the sliding glass doors to the patio. Sometimes I even “talk” to them. Yes, they DO live in our memories; that’s a good thing! Again, thanks for reading and commenting here!
Yes I also think of my sister and my brother. It is not a nice feeling to be the only sibling left. I do have our son and grand children, niece and 2 nephews.
Ruthie used to say she felt like the last leaf on the tree. I guess sometimes you feel like that.
Still you have your son and grandchildren – 3 generations, and other relatives. Blessings, Gerry! π
Lovely Mother’s Day tribute to your mom Marian. π
I know you had a complicated relationship with your mother, but you did declare your forgiveness to the world here: https://dgkayewriter.com/p-s-forgive/
Yes I did Marian. Forgiveness comes with an understanding and doesn’t necessarily bring back the love, merely a peaceful reckoning. π
“Peaceful reckoning” – you should coin that phrase. I’ve had to adopt that attitude too, for others! π
So funny you say that because after I wrote it, I thought the same thing. I’ve written it down and will make a new meme with it. π
I like when that happens: One idea sparking another. I guess we’ll see the new meme soon. π
Lol, yes! π
A lovely tribute!
Thank you, Lady Fi!
Such adorable photos of your lovely mom . I can see through all those photos what a kind lady she was , just like you .
My poor mum had mental heath problems and all through my life I saw her struggles but she was the sweetest of ladies , she really was Marian . I one thing I will never forget her for was her passion for books that she instilled in me .
Donβt you just wish they were back now for a chat …maybe together with a cup of tea and a piece of fruit cake .
Happy Motherβs Day to you Marian .
Cherryx
I like when you knock on my door. Of course, I welcome you with open arms.
Yes, we miss our mothers and we can imagine a tea party for old time’s sake. I imagine my mother healed of her sickness though and yours without mental illness. How wonderful that she instilled a love of reading (and writing) in her daughter!
Happy Mother’s Day to you too, Cherry! xo
I love your photos and your tribute to your mom. Upon reading this post, and then your nice review of the “About My Mother” memoir, I had the thought that all of us (particularly us writers) have a book inside us about our mothers. And we all should probably write that book, even if it’s just full of photos and vignettes. I know I’m inspired to do so, but I have the other three books I’m thinking about to write first. Urgh. More time, Lord, please, more time. In the meantime, I’m so looking forward to YOUR memoir!
Thank you for the nod (and fist bump!) here, Pam. Go ahead with those three books, since you are already “pregnant” with them. You can still start collecting vignettes and photos about your mom, such a sweet photo on Facebook, by the way. I’ve asked God to help me get this book published before I die. (No kidding!) Then, there’s marketing too!
Your comments feel so personal here. I imagine if/when I meet you, we’d just carry on from here to there. Great week ahead, dear friend!
I remember the beautiful quilts especially. I admire the patience and social cooperation of women quilting together. Creating art one stitch at a time. My maternal grandma was a quilt maker, but I didn’t inherit her quilts. When we did a big remodeling many years ago, I left one dark wood wall (old wide barn boards) behind my bed. It’s a perfect canvas for my paternal grandma’s art of crochet. I cherish each piece I inherited. The older I get, the more they mean. Thanks for sharing your mom with us, Marian.
Woman have always been artists, stitching our loves with thread and yarn. I can imagine the crocheted art behind your bed: lacy and round (or square perhaps.) We do the same creating meaningful relationships. Hope you had a Happy Mother’s Day.
Today I picture you with improved hearing and preparing for the workshop this month. Lots of bloom in your neck of the woods, Elaine! π
Marian β What a lovely tribute to you mother. And you know, I’ve always enjoyed posts where you share photos of her.
You are a strong supporter of my archives here, and you KNOW I appreciate it.
I just saw a photo of you and Luna Bleue on Facebook. Beyond adorable! π
It was at first at the tables of your Mom and Grandma’s that I learned to expand my Western and Southern appetites to the sweet ‘n sour of Pennsylvania Dutch good eating!
Yes, you DO know first hand the table spreads at my two homes. Now you are benefiting from my version of their dishes, or so I hope! π