6. Mom

Today my thoughts turn to my mom, because it’s Mother’s Day! We three kids were recently invited to watch our mom perform in the Ohio Wesleyan Chamber Orchestra. And because it’s the time of COVID, it was – of course – live streaming.

So as dutiful children, we all tuned in on a Tuesday night to watch our mom play the cello. We have all watched her play the cello many times in our lives. But there was something a little magical going on that night.

There was the conductor up on the podium. There were the twenty-five college kids with their instruments and masks. And off to the right, in the midst of the cello section, was one player with white hair and a black mask playing her heart out. Our mom!

In the midst of a pandemic this octogenarian is out there living life.

I had planned to work on another project while listening to the concert, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. The music was beautiful, the group took such pride in their concert, and of course, there was the mom-factor. I felt so proud of her.

We three kids kind of started realizing that maybe not all 85 year old’s are quite like our mom. Do they all play in orchestras? Do they self-publish novels? Do they drive from Ohio to Maine each summer? Do they mentor local students?

Dear Mom - Thanks for being an amazing person, amazing role model, and amazing mom.  Happy Mother’s Day.