• Home
  • As seen on …
    • Advocacy Work
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Kathryn Mayer • Writing Out Loud

I write stuff down. writer • humorist • activist

Ready, Set, Remember

November 24, 2010 by Kate Mayer 9 Comments

Thanksgiving table full of family and friends
Thanksgiving memory circa 2005 or thereabouts

I’m usually not your usual crunchy, airy-fairy, pollyanna, sock ‘n sandals, peace, love, & granola type of do-unto-others self. In fact, I hated Eat, Pray, Love so much, I wanted to hit the author in the head with a shovel. But that’s just me.

However, something extraordinary happened in the midst of the Thanksgiving rush that took my breath away.

Swamped with a cart heaping with cheese, fruit, butter, eggs, tons of veggies, flour, yeast, a frozen 25 lb. bird, cream, and yes, brussel sprouts, I navigated the crowded grocery store easily because I was, happily, kid free. Everybody at school, work flexible to shop mid-day, with time to spare to eat free samples.

I couldn’t help but notice all the young moms juggling babies in carseats, toddlers tackling displays, lost, crumpled to-do lists, babies and toddlers with tired moms spilling coffee and looking frazzled. A massive, full-blown temper tantrum by a kid at the lobster tank sealed the deal.

I used to be that mom.
Young and outnumbered with adorable little snot-nosed kids who suck every bit of the life out of you, figuratively and literally – and tired, so tired! Yet happy, too, most of the time. But never in the grocery store. I’m a little bit sad that my kids are past that age, but only just a little bit. Because life is pretty good, and I’m glad it’s over. But . . .

As I headed for a speedy-looking check-out line, an older – much, much older – meticulously dressed woman was watching me. She smiled at the abundance of my shopping and said,

“That’s a lot of groceries; you must be having a house full. Well, I know who’s cooking at your house, dear.”

I smiled and admitted, ‘yes we are,’ and she smiled, knowingly.

“I remember.  I love those memories.”

She happily wished me a Happy Thanksgiving, and walked away. She was happy, but I started to cry.


Dr. Seuss Thanksgiving
Face-to-Face Trumps Text-to-Text

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    November 24, 2010 at 11:25 am

    I’m surprised that you didn’t invite her!

    Reply
  2. Robin says

    November 24, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    Amazing!
    Teary.
    Wednesday is here!

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    November 24, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    What Time is she coming over?

    Reply
  4. Michelle Saunderson says

    November 24, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    Just a reminder to cherish the moments that you have.

    Reply
  5. Robin says

    November 24, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    Can’t stop thinking about this. Would it be considered Blog Jumping Shark or stalking to find out what she’s up to tomorrow? Headed to one of her kids’ homes, vacationing, cozy day knitting? Going out?….but then again its really not about her I guess. Let us know if she tries the brussel sprouts.

    Reply
  6. Cheryl Wilms says

    November 24, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    Wow….what a great reminder.

    Reply
  7. Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

    November 24, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    I did invite her; she had plans. OF COURSE SHE DID! I wanted to adopt her, but she’s already taken. Damn it.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    November 30, 2010 at 3:07 am

    I’m one of the burned out moms (one year old and 2.5 year old) and I try to be nice and smile back when the older moms give me one of those “been there done that, enjoy it” looks. Sometimes, I want to hand over the toddler, though…

    Reply
  9. Kathy (p/t writer, f/t mom) says

    November 30, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    It sucks, make no mistake about it. When I see young moms with little kids (1 & 2.5??? yikes), I immediately remember exactly how much it sucked. I always wondered if it was that bad, or was I a baby who needed to suck it up. It’s that bad. Anyone who doesn’t say so is lying. Chin up girl, they’ll grow.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
Rams hubbard
Follow @kathykatemayer Tweets by @kathykatemayer

Categories

Lucky Me!

Archives

About Kathryn Mayer

Kathryn Mayer

An irreverent storyteller with a foul mouth and big heart, Kathryn Mayer (aka Kathy and/or Kate) is a writer, humorist, and (former) activist writing out loud with humor and grace about little life moments with big ripples, including the space between parenting and aging parents, social issues, angsty reflections of midlife, and, sigh, gun humpers. Still. Sometimes a big deal, sometimes not Mayer is a national award-winning columnist, according to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and her essays have been recognized as Voice of … Read More Here...

Never Miss A Post!
Enter your email address below to receive updates in your Inbox.
No Spam. Promise.
75 kate[at]kathrynmayer[dot]com
xo Kate
  • Home
  • As seen on …
  • About the writer
  • Contact Me
  • Portfolio
  • Get Involved

Copyright © 2022 Kathryn Mayer Designed By: J9 Designs