As a toddler I loved burrowing into the freshly laundered clothes in the large crates. Since they’d been drying in the sunshine, I felt warm and cozy as I fell asleep.
The world was perfect, but not for my widowed mom.
On her feet all day, mom washed, dried, and ironed clothes for an orphanage. Removing her shoes, she’d stand on the cool, concrete floor. Unfortunately, she developed varicose veins and, worse, arthritis in both knees.
Mom needed rescuing. Mr. Chalmers, the handsome gardener, seemed made-to-order.
Unlike Cinderella, mom never married her prince charming. No fairy tale ending for her.
hugmamma's MIND, BODY and SOUL 
It seems like such a sad story, but real life doesn’t always line up with fairy tales. She sounds like quite a woman though, hard working throughout her life.
-David
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Hugs for your compassion… Blogging has given me a great outlet in which to remember the past as it was…but also with empathy and forgiveness for what might have been difficult at the time.
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Touching. Sad love stories and unrequited love, in real life as well as in fiction, make me tear up.We look to fiction oftentimes for a happy ending because real life can’t always provide it…
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Thank you for such a heartfelt comment.
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Happily ever after is a relative term.
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It is. Unfortunately for folks living in poverty, as our family was, happily-ever-after is having more than one can of tuna left on the shelf at the end of the month. Waiting for my mom’s next paycheck of just over $100 per month was like waiting for the ice cream truck which we could never enjoy like other children in the neighborhood. I think an ice cream bar off the Good Humor truck would’ve been the best happily-ever-after for my siblings and me. My mom might’ve enjoyed it too.
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Touching…definitely a story worth reading. Thank you for sharing 🙂 hope to see more of your work.
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Bless you…and stop by anytime. hugs…
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We all have our struggles don’t we? I wish we could be brave enough to share more, so that we all know that we are not alone…. I would like to think that they didn’t feel the need to get married….
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Being that the orphanage was run by Catholic nuns, I don’t think there was much chance of an affair. Besides, my mom was a native Hawaiian and Mr. Chalmers was a white man. Interracial marriage was frowned upon in the 50s. Moreover, I think my mom was pretty shy. She probably didn’t think she’d have a chance with Mr.Chalmers. Or maybe a white man was outside her realm of possibilities. I think there was just a flirtation.
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What a complicated set of circumstances, and how times have changed… Still, a flirtation was better than nothing, I hope.
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Being poor is complicated. Not so easy to pull oneself out of poverty AND find one’s prince charming all at the same time. But as you said…a flirtation is a bittersweet occurrence. I’m sure it was for my mom.
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Life is so tough for some people. Sad they didn’t do the business. Daughter/son did okay, I assume. She/he writes well.
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I’m certain many people have their own stories of struggle. The best we can do is have compassion…and try not to judge. hugs for your comment…
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Dear Millie,
Your tribute to your mother is touching and well crafted. Thank you for sharing it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Funny how this little story sprung to mind as soon as I saw the warehouse. For me it’s a precious memory, out of so many more sad memories of life growing up poor. The saddest being that my mom’s life was one of frustration and sadness, never having achieved personal happiness. The physical and emotional stress she endured remained with her until she died. Among her other ailments…Alzheimer’s. A dreaded disease that robbed my mom of what little dignity she had left. hugs for your sweet support, Rochelle. It’s always much appreciated…
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Good story – and I think she was an amazing mom – standing on concrete all day is so hard on every cell in your body! Well written – thanks! 🙂
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One never thinks of the consequences one’s job may have long term, especially when you’re poor with many mouths to feed.
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This was a very good human interest story. We should all appreciate the struggles many of our parents have gone through to make sure we have an easier time in life.
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As parents we all try to do our best. Upbringing and circumstances have a lot to do with our parenting skills. Added to the mix, however, is the fact that we’re all human…
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What a wonderful mom she must have been. So sad she didn’t have a fairy tale ending.
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Perhaps if she had had a better life, including a new marriage to a good man, my mom might have been happier and even more loving. However, she did the best she could. hugs for the lovely comment.
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like what sandra said. 🙂
and it’s a beautiful memoir/ tribute to your mom. i admire parents who are able to raise their children well even on their own. very moving.
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Thanks, KZ. My mom did the best she could under the circumstances. Her legacy to me…will to survive…and the strength to persevere. hugs…
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The hard life of grown ups is often lost to children… Realization of hardships is part of growing up.
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It doesn’t take too long for a parent’s hardships to overflow onto the young ‘uns. Eventually, everything comes to a head. hugs for your comment, Bjorn.
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Too many moms in the situation of trying to be both mother and father to their families! I like the way you juxtaposed the perfect world of a child against the reality s/he didn’t yet know.
janet
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Remember our previous discussion re poverty and the government’s help? Well, this little story is about me…and my mom. True-to-life…and bittersweet.
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It sounds like this is based on a true story. Very touching.
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You’re very astute, Claire. This is my story…
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I prefer to believe that they simply didn’t legitimise their union. 🙂 Such a romantic…
Nice one.
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I love your version. I wish my mom had had a fling with Mr. Chalmers. I would have liked him for a dad, I think. What would a toddler know though… Hugs for the sweet comment about…romance.
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A good story of struggle.
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We all have one, unfortunately.
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