Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Stillpoint and Mom

I went to another poetry reading tonight, and this one was inspiring as well, though in a different way. This was the presentation of the undergrad literary magazine, Stillpoint. Several of the poets and storyists (I made that up, but I don't know the word for those that don't write poems and don't write novels and don't write essays...) got up and read. Though I didn't like some of their work, it was strange to think that these people not much older than I was were getting up and reading their thoughts with such confidence. One day I want to have the confidence to do that. And the poetry to back up that confidence.
The other day I saw a poster saying something about "home is where the mother is" and since then I've been missing my mother, and missing home. So after tonight I put together a list (I guess it could be called a poem, if you'd like) of things I learned from my mother. I'll record it here:

Things I learned from my Mother:

Don’t run your knits with your jeans

Keep the counters clean

Life is made of windows and doors… be careful closing them

Shoulders back, chin up

To be a teacher is a noble thing.

Marry a man who is good with power tools.

You’re the cutest one up there.

Be proud, you’re a Franks.

Be passionate about your work: do what you love, love what you do.

Walk quickly.

Video games kill your brain.

It doesn’t matter whose fault it is, it’s your responsibility.

Love is watching HGTV on a Friday night and kissing at the dinner table.

Call back home every so often.

Cry when it hurts, then get up and move on.

Always keep a calendar.

Don’t ever put your name on something that’s less than your best.

Insecurity is not an excuse- you can do it, if you want to.

Reading makes you smarter.

Some things in life are worth fighting tooth and claw for.

That attitude is unbecoming on you.

Sometimes, you just need to be babied.

If you sew it inside out and then flip it, it hides the seams.

You’ve got something to offer, even if you think you don’t.

When it’s sunny, get outside and play.

Don’t wear jeans to church… but get out of bed and go to church.

Mean what you say. Say what you mean.

Everyone doesn’t need to know everything, but have someone who does.

No, you don’t know, and you don’t get it. Hush and listen.

Be a woman, even in a twisted world.

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