Memoir
/ˈmemˌwär/ noun. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Usually memoirs. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
For those who missed the inaugural post explaining what the Memoir Monday initiative is all about you can find it here.
For those who don't want to go back and read that post, here's a quick recap:
I’m going to be posting a question/prompt every Monday for the next year encouraging anyone who wants to join in to write their own blockchain-based memoir for future generations to read.
To participate, simply answer the memoir prompt question in your own Hive post. Be sure to tag your post with #memoirmonday. In a year from now you’ll have a legitimate memoir that you can pass along to future generations of your family. This exercise will also offer a valuable glimpse into your inner self. We’ll all get to learn more about each other and, hopefully, ourselves each week.
Here’s this week’s Memoir Monday question:
What was your mom like when you were a child?
My answer:
I always tell my Mom I hit the lottery when God assigned Moms. When I think of my Mother the words that come to mind are — nurturing, kind, loving, empathetic, selfless. She absolutely excels at motherhood, even today. My brother and I were very lucky that she was able to stay home with us during our first few years of life. As the cost of living was rising in America in the early 1980’s a stay-at-home parent was already becoming a rarity in middle class families in the US. My Dad never made much money at his job but, somehow, my parents prioritized this and made it happen.
Our mornings consisted of breakfast, cartoons, and Captain Kangaroo. Mom would tidy up around the house in the morning. We always watched The Price Is Right during lunch, which usually consisted of Campbell’s soup and a sandwich. Afternoon was our playtime and if we were indoors my Mom typically had soap operas on television. We would also read and lay down for a short nap.
The time with spent with her before we started kindergarten was blissful and simple. She read to us a lot, every day I think. I remember the very moment I learned to read. I loved to look at the illustrations in Dr. Suess’s, “If I Ran The Circus”, this was a book Mom frequently read to me. I must’ve been three-and-a-half or maybe four years old, I don’t think my brother was born yet when something spectacular happened. One night my Dad was in the shower after work and my Mom was making dinner and I opened the book and it was just like someone flipped a switch and I could read it! I was ecstatic.
Even after all these years I still remember so much of my young childhood and when I do it makes me smile. Walks to Young’s, the neighborhood grocery store or local convenience store on Main Street, Lawson’s. Sometimes she would just put me in an old wagon and pull me around the neighborhood to take in the landscape, birds and squirrels and the colors during the changing seasons. She made us notice the little things and appreciate how important they really are. This one thing has made my adult life immensely more enjoyable.
More than anything my Mom has helped to provide my brother and I with such a solid foundation to build successful lives on. My childhood was filled with security and so many simple memories of walks, playing with toys at home, being read to, car rides in downtown Columbus. We were given the freedom to make our own mistakes and our interests were unconditionally supported. As I’ve lived my life I’ve learned how rare this kind of childhood is and am beyond grateful for this gift and all of the sacrifices that were made by my parents to give it to my brother and I. I have the best Mom.
Rules for Participation
- Please reblog this first post and share on other social platforms so we cast the widest net possible for this initiative;
- Pictures paint a thousand words. Include pictures in your posts if you have them;
- Answer each Memoir Monday prompt question in your own post. The prompt question will be published each Monday but you'll have the entire week to answer and publish your own post; and
- Lastly, be sure to include the tag #memoirmonday.
It's as simple as that!
At the end of this next twelve months we'll have created something immensely valuable together. It's so important to know our "whys" in life and there's no better way to do that than this.
Someday all that will be left of our existence are memories of us, our deeds, and words. It's up to you to leave as rich of a heritage as possible for future generations to learn from. So, go ahead, tell your stories. I can't wait to read them.
Enjoy the day. I want to sincerely thank all of the participants thus far. I've really enjoy reading your posts!
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