My mother, Pearl Williston Thomas, would have been 82 years old today, and so it happens that she is on my mind. Pearl was a beautiful woman with sparkling blue eyes and a beautiful countenance, someone to whom everyone seem to be drawn. In fact, for as long as I can remember, young men, older men, children, and yep, even most women were all about getting to know her and enjoy her company. She was a charismatic, gorgeous, articulate woman - what's not to love?
I didn't always feel that way, though, not when I was young and she would brandish the stinging switch to keep us in order. I vowed to never use such methods for discipline, and I didn't, and wow, it's a good feeling to know I broke that cycle. I only had one child, though, and he was such a good kid, I got lucky; Pearl had seven brats to control. However, I am happy to say that as the years have gone by, my memories of Mother these days , dwell more on the many wonderful things she did for me, all the sometimes harsh but valuable lessons and resulting life skills with which she equipped me to survive.
I'm grateful, for example, that she taught me how to cook. I knew how to make a white sauce when I was still a Brownie Scout, no kidding...I was so young, I had to stand on a beer case to stir the gravy until it was just right. As a result, I can today make sauces from scratch, Welsh Rarebit, gumbo roux, schnitzel - you name it (and shake a pretty good martini, Gibson style, like Pearl loved em ... I think that had something to do with the pearl onions. :)
Another facet of motherhood Pearl thought was important was etiquette. Accordingly, we answered the phone properly, we said Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am and please and thank you; we didn't visit our neighbors without being invited first; we had proper table manners.
All great life skills.
I'm also glad that even though she had seven children, Mom always impressed upon us the necessity to give back, to serve, to be selfless, to have compassion. Apart from her leadership roles in garden clubs, womens clubs, fine arts fund drives, she was also a columnist for a weekly paper (natch), she grew rare roses, poppies and digitalis, read books to us, like Angel Unaware, that left profound, lifelong impressions about how precious life is, no matter what our handicap may be. Academically, however, she felt that spelling and good grammar were of the utmost importance - she'd once taught all 12 grades, all subjects, in a one room schoolhouse!
Other fond memories of Pearl have to do with how she instilled an unquenchable curiosity for all things political, historic and scientific. That afforded the opportunity for us to witness history in the making. I remember my entire family saw Lee Harvey Oswald get shot by Jack Ruby - live on television - because we were glued to the television set once that awful day in November took our President away from us. I also saw Neil Armstrong walk on the moon - live - because Mom corralled all 7 of us together in front of the television to watch it, as she did with any lift-off or splash-down or moon walk, and of course, we didn't miss a minute of the spectacle that was The Watergate hearings. Good times...
After a 37 years of marriage to my Pops, raising seven kids and 60 years in this Life, Pearl was suddenly called to heaven in July of 1988 ... and if indeed she is in heaven, I hope it looks like the Greenbrier, because she loved it so...I also would think she's enjoying the UK basketball season (she's probably chatting up Cawood Ledford for scoops), and most likely playing bridge with Pops and looking at a 7 no-trump hand loaded with hearts.
On your birthday, Pearl, we sure miss you...
I can only hope to someday give back to my community and family in such a great capacity. That is my prayer.
peace,
Kimmy
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