Go Tigers!

Sorry about that misleading title. I couldn’t resist. I was trying to think of something to get people’s attention that was related to the story I’m going to write. “Go Tigers!” seems to be attention grabbing. But this article is not about LSU tigers. Not that I have anything against LSU tigers, my dad and I both got our graduate degrees at LSU. The tiger in this story is mainly just a tiger head that my mom made for me when I was a kid.

As you can see from this photo, it wasn’t just a tiger head that she made. She also made tiger-print pajamas for me and a leopard-print nightgown for my younger sister Jamie. What made me think of this photo was the cold weather we are having. I’m not much of a fan of cold weather and never really have been.

I don’t remember if it was that cold on the day that we got this sleepwear, but I do remember that it was a surprise when we got home from school.  And it wasn’t a hand-me-down!  Something new and decidedly fun.  Who wouldn’t want tiger-striped pajamas?  Any LSU fan would surely agree.  Of course, I had no awareness of LSU’s mascot at the time.  I just liked my new flannel pajamas with the matching tiger head.  It was warm and cozy and something that our mama had made us.

Another warm memory of my mom was a few years later on.  When I was in junior high, I had a paper route in the neighborhood.  And we were like the post – neither rain, nor sleet, nor blah blah blah could keep us from delivering those newspapers.  So every day after school – while reruns of “Star Trek” were playing mind you (now that’s dedication!) – I would faithfully go out and deliver my paper route.  Sometimes I would even do my brother’s as well if he had something to do!

During the winter it could get particularly cold riding that old Schwinn bicycle in the elements.  If it was raining, I would really be miserable.  I don’t know how often she would do this, but I remember my mom having a warm blanket to wrap around me when I would finish my paper route.  I’m not sure if she kept the blanket warm in the dryer or just started it running when I got home, but I remember it being nice and toasty and definitely comforting.

I’m sure that my brothers and sisters have warm memories of my mom as well.  It’s not like I was the only one she treated that way.  I think she loved being a mom, taking care of her children and showing them that she loved them.  This carried on to her grandchildren as well.

Though later in life her failing memory caused her to be reticent in dealing with people, sometimes even her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Too bad they weren’t able to experience the full warmth of her love.  It was a wonderful thing.