Comments on: Once Upon a Childhood…

By: Breon

Breon — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:02:45 +0000

Well, Pru, you know those wands are still here in this house–a number of them, in different variations, because, as you know, we can never bear to get rid of anything, and certainly not childhood. I loved that bookstore, I loved those childhoods. I can see your sweet boys when they were so very young and wild and full of wonder; they are called up for me instantly. And of course there was magic in those wands…You’ve conjured up such a lovely memory chain with your words, once again. Beautifully done.

By: dearpru

dearpru — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:10:11 +0000

Lori, thank you so much for sharing your magical Mother’s Day. By showing up and giving so generously of his time and of himself (even watching the sudsy “Brothers & Sisters” with you!), Sean has told you everything you’ll ever need to know about his essential nature. You need not worry about this one–he has shown you his heart and it’s golden through and through. What a gift he is. Prudence

By: Proinsias Faulkner

Proinsias Faulkner — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:56:08 +0000

I really love reading your stuff, Prudence, and hope you keep at this for many more years. There is so much for you to cover with your sharp memory and keen words.

Thank you.

By: Lori Oliver-Tierney

Lori Oliver-Tierney — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:33:44 +0000

I loved your essay. thanks so much for helping me remember my own two sons when they were small and I shared all their magic. My sons are grown and are now 24 and 26 and I was afraid that this Mother’s Day would be a particularly sad one since my own mother just passed away this summer and I miss he so terribly. My husband knowing this tried his best to make it a special time and took me to brunch and then bike riding in Yosemite which is still one of my favorite places in the world no matter how many zillion times I see it. It was a marvelous day but I missed my sons terribly and as we rode through the park I remembered all the times we had been together as a family. When I came home my younger son called and asked me if I had liked the books he had sent me and I said of course as they are about dogs and dogs, and my dogs are only second in my heart to my husband and sons and have become so important to me as my sons have left home. Craig my “easy” son, as always made me laugh and feel better telling me he loves me always. When I hung up Iasked my husband if he thought my son Sean remembered this very commercial but still nevertheless important holiday to me. He said he thought Sean was at a fire down south working it- as he is a firefighter. Resigning myself to not seeing or hearing from Sean I proceeded to make the skewers for our barbecue that night. I was thinking of all the unresolved conflect Sean and I had going on and sending my love out to him. In the middle of the skewing my dogs started barking furiously and I heard a door slamming. Rushing in was not a burglar but the burly body of my firefighter son dirty and smiling. “Hey Mom Happy Mother’s day. I just got off a fire and I came home to do some tractor work for you and do you have enough dinner for me?” he said flinging his shirt off and putting on work clothes. Sean my challenging son who has tugged at my heart strings in so many moments was there when I needed him most. “I thought this mother’s day might be a hard one for you.” Sean not only did tractor work but stayed for dinner, and watched “Brothers and Sisters” with me on T.V., a show he can’t stand.
To put the icing on the cake he stayed overnight and gave me a mushy Hallmark Card. Prudence, you have much more magic to look forward to with your sons. I am still smiling over my magic Mother’s day.

By: carine

carine — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:42:49 +0000

Your beautiful words almost made me want to be a mom. You crafty thing, you!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:38:29 +0000

Oh, Pru, through my tears I’m seeing memories of SuperHero costumes; Ninja masks, capes of all colors, books, books, books. How lucky we are to have been part of these little guys’ awakenings. Thank you for capturing what so many of us have experienced and couldn’t find words for, just long sighs…

By: dearpru

dearpru — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:16:37 +0000

Cheryl, you can always pass along the curse my mother leveled at me when I was an incorrigible teen, “I hope someday you have children who treat you as horribly as you treat me.” So far, my boys haven’t managed to “achieve” that special level of nastiness, but there’s still time, eh?