Friday, January 26, 2007

Da Count-The Unwicked Stepmother

This week, I'm counting my stepmother, Mary. I know many people have had less than wonderful experiences with stepparents so I am especially thankful for Mary. My folks split up when I was 6. Mary came into my life when I was 11. She has never been anything less than warm, accepting, kind, and loving to my brother and me. There were times as a teenager when I felt closer to her and more able to confide in her than either of my parents. She listens without judgement and if there is some point of disagreement she is completely gentle in offering it.

She has the cutest giggle which is so easy to elicit from her. She has never quite grown up or forgotten what it's like to be a kid. She's got a really rotten knee that prevents some of her more hearty antics but she's enough of a kid that it took very little coaxing for her to try that rope swing we used to have in the backyard. When I woke up from surgery after the zipline incident the first words I heard were my mother saying, 'At 37 years old you'd think common sense would have kicked in by now.' The next words I heard were Mary gently responding with, 'Well, I'm 57 and that rope swing was a lot of fun. I can understand why she was ziplining.' I know my mom was just worried about me and that's how it came out but I sure appreciated Mary sticking up for me in her soft way at that moment.

Mary is the one who buys my kids pogo sticks and skate boards. She's the one who got down on their level when they were small and encouraged playing in mud. She's the one who decided she didn't want to enter the grandparent competition and see who could buy the most 'stuff' at Christmas and has payed for various lessons over the years so the kids can explore different interests and develop talents.

My mom has an awful lot of skills (taught herself guitar, excellent carpenter, accomplilshed seamstress, tech guru, learned harp only about 3 years ago, is always learning something new) but has never been a cook. I learned how not to starve from mom. Mary taught me the kitchen could be fun and not to be afraid of experimenting. She taught me how to have fun there.

This week Mary buried her 92 year old mother. It was time for the rest of us to be the support to the lady who has always been a loving support to us. It reminded me that we need to tell the people we are close to what they mean to us. I told Mary and now I'm telling you as I count the sweetest and most unwicked stepmother ever.


maryswing

31 comments:

S said...

LOL OMG YOu didnt have Mary play on the zip line! You didnt! I cant believe it! LMAO!
That picture is hilarious, it oughta be a poster that reads something like:

Always Be Like Mowgli

Go Mary Go!!!

CozyMama said...

HA, great pic!!! what a hoot.

Breazy said...

She sounds like a wonderful person! I have never had a stepmother , wicked or otherwise, but my husband does . She hides her evil until she feels it useful to bring out on us . She has found out that her evil does nothing to us . Consider yourself blessed Lime, not many who have a stepmother can say what you just did! Have a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

What a beautifully touching tribute to a wonderful lady. You will always be her daughter, and because of Michelle Trini Limey, we are all blessed.....G x

Anonymous said...

I was kinda getting all sniffly and emotional (gotta love that whole girl thing and connecting with your words)
until I saw that picture and truly said outloud "WooooHooooooO!!!!"
hahaha
She seems like a wonderful woman!!
Sorry to hear of her mothers passing this past week, no matter the age it's still hard to say goodbye.
But what an opportunity and great way to say I love you.

:)

lecram sinun said...

A beautiful count, Lime. Yes, there are those people that come into our lives and impact it with gentleness... Mary sounds like one. For the most part they remain unsung heros... so glad you broke that trend.

Anonymous said...

You know.. it is funny.. I met suse thinking you were her.. er.. does that sound coherent?

I mean, I thought tie-dyed and cavebabe (suse) were the same people.. << is what I mean :D..

Anyways, nice knowing you after such a long time.. all over again.. Hope you are fine.. take care...

PS: You knew me as something else on trivia..

Anonymous said...

A fitting post for a wonderful loving stepmother.
Bravo lime!
tc

Stephanie said...

She sounds like an amazing lady. I'm glad that you have her in your life.

Anonymous said...

I would have loved to have a supportive adult in my life. You are truely blessed.

Anonymous said...

I would have loved to have a supportive adult in my life. You are truely blessed.

Anonymous said...

(-: What a wonderful tribute to a lovely woman. Now we know why you turned out so interesting,kind and witty. You have a cool mom and a cool step-mom. (-:

Anonymous said...

geez -- for a moment I thought you put stepmom on the zipline.....

:)

great post!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic words for a fantastic person... that counts!

KFarmer said...

Wonderful count- What a beautiful woman, inside and out :)

Anonymous said...

:D That's such a fun picture! Your stepmom sounds like a wonderful lady.

Anonymous said...

LIMEY!!

Anonymous said...

These are the people in our lives who make us want to live like them. Mary sounds like a fascinating "young" woman. And what a lucky girl you are to have two woman you looked up to and taught you things. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

unwickedness is wicked cool

S said...

Hey Lime! Yeah, that's K up there.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for writing this post dedicated a person you honour and respect, 'cause your stephmother allways respected you.

Respect is a great quality.

Cheesy said...

Sweet post.. ty for sharing

Anonymous said...

dang lime, now you got ME tearing up... (My StepMom is Joyce... and Joyce brought the Beatles into a Marine's house who used to play only Jazz, (and who used to play LedZepplin for she and my little bro, when she was taking him off to Timothy Christian School...)
-My Step Dad is Jules... actually just 'Dad,' (yep, I have two dads.)

Steps have a hard time of it in a lot of ways, but they are usually so wonderful for the kids, and show such a diverse side of the parent that is part of the DNA...
-Very cool post.

Anonymous said...

Yeah... that is prolly right,Suse-Lime.. That is K up there.. Hmm.. IT sure looks like K.. Gosh, wait... K is here.. I am K :D

Anonymous said...

MEGA!

Anonymous said...

very sweet mother I must say.

& I've seen some real mothers being very unkind to their children.

Wicked stepmoms is a myth!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post for a beautiful lady -- from a beautiful lady.

Very nice Michelle.

Anonymous said...

I love that picture and I am so glad you got to have two pretty wonderful women involved with your mom.
You papa may have his faults but seems he has GREAT taste in women.
And his daughter isn't half bad either!!

Anonymous said...

you are incredible...great beautiful count...the more i read the more beautiful of a person I think you are.

Anonymous said...

That's awesome that you two have had such a great relationship! Scary with the zip line : )

L said...

I read this tears in my eyes being a stepmother myself, in the thick of it all at the moment. i can only hope that I am being as warm and kind as Mary.