The Single Most Important Lesson I learned from my Mother.
In our 40 years together, I never went one night without saying ‘Goodnight’ to my Mom.
This was not a request, and it was not ‘required..’ it was my choice, because I loved her…just that much.
It did not matter if I was on tour. It did not matter if I was out of the country. It also did not matter if it happened to be 4 am and I was at a fraternity party in college (I distinctly remember one night a guy was trying to speak with me, and I actually interrupted him, and asked him “where I could find a phone?”) He looked very puzzled and asked “Who are you calling at 4 in the morning?” I told him I was “saying goodnight to my Mom.” I honestly think he thought I was insane…
My Mother really did not ask very much of me. She just wanted me to be well…to be happy. She really didn’t ask much of anything from anyone yet, I can not think of a person who deserved nothing less than an abundance of love from the entire world (and basically, anyone who really knew her definitely fell in love with her in some way…especially my Dad.)
The single most important lesson I learned from my Mother was that there simply is nothing more important than love. Nothing.
Not your looks, your wealth, your status, even your intelligence…nothing is more important than love.
That was what she was all about. She was definitely sending a message. She was just quiet about it, not like me, having to express every thought and every emotion…had she been a writer, she really could have changed the world.
But that’s okay, I’m a writer…and I do not forget important, unforgettable things, so she lives on. Through me, as well as her message…
I once read…”If you are lucky enough to be loved by a writer…you will never die.” So in that case, my Mom will live on forever. As well she should.
