STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

Special Treat ??“ Kathleene S. Baker

June 11, 2005

A MARCH MADNESS ANGEL

By,

Kathleene S. Baker

March brings an array of thoughts and emotions about my mother. I have poignant moments of reflection, as it??™s the month she passed away. But I also have entertaining thoughts that put a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye.

Mother was a sports fans from the word go; she loved them all. But her favorite was definitely basketball, and she had played the game herself when she was in high school. From all reports, she was really quite good. With that in mind, I guess it??™s no wonder she loved March Madness!

We spoke long distance at least once a week, and for the most part mother and I did the visiting, except in March. That??™s when mother and my husband, Jerry, monopolized the calls. Dad and I just kind of sat there listening, and hoping we wouldn??™t fall asleep. I mean, just how much can be said about basketball games?

Mom knew the background on each player; regardless of what college he attended, as well as his hometown, and the name of the high school he had played for. Rattling off who would play next if so and so won, as well as the background on the coaches, came as easily as discussing what she was fixing for dinner. I never quite understood when or where she gathered this vast amount of information, and it never ceased to amaze me.

Being a native Kansan, and with their usually exceptional teams, mother loved taunting Jerry about how his Texas teams were, or weren??™t, playing. They bantered back and forth until I??™m sure the phone lines were smoking! Into her eighties she could have discussed basketball with the likes of Bobby Knight, and even he would have probably walked away impressed.

Calling dad on the anniversary of her death is a must, and the call that first year was a rough one. By the second year he had made tremendous progress. After visiting a while about various things, I casually asked him if he??™d been watching March Madness. I mean - that had been a major event in their household! I just knew he had been glued to the tube.

???Oh, no,??? he chuckled. ???The only reason I ever watched it was because mom wouldn??™t let me get my hands on the remote control during the month of March!???

Well, who knew? I assumed he enjoyed the games, although he clearly wasn??™t the avid fan mother was. I had no idea he really didn??™t give a hoot one way or the other. All I could do was stammer and stutter, ???You sure had me fooled. I thought you loved the tournament too.???

Then he added, ???You know, I??™ve caught myself doing the strangest thing this week. By the time mom used to get up in the mornings, I had already finished reading the paper. During March Madness I always laid the sports page in her chair so she could read it while having her coffee. I??™ve found myself folding it up and reaching over to lay it in her chair several times the past few days.???

???Oh dad, did that make you feel sad???? I questioned, starting to choke up.

???Well, not really, but it did make me feel kind of stupid! I??™d done it for so many years; I guess it had become a habit. I just kind of chuckled at myself each time, and wondered if I was getting The Alzheimer??™s already???? he joked. The tone of his voice assured me I need not worry; he was handling things just fine and dandy.

As for me, I??™m sure an angel was playing her own kind of game with her surviving sweetheart, possibly reminding him not to dwell on her passing away in March, but that he should reminisce about the good times as well. And for mom, March Madness was simply the best of times.

Mother never attended the playoffs in person, but I know she now has a seat at center court for each and every game. Then again, maybe these days she just hovers over center court for the best view in the arena??¦

Lnstrlady@aol.com

THE LOCKET

By,

Kathleene S. Baker

Sorting mother??™s belongings,

That dreaded day had come.

With a cascade of emotions,

And some that left me numb.

A drawer within her dresser,

Held a box not seen before.

Amongst my mom??™s belongings,

All things she once adored.

The box contained a locket,

And with disbelief I stared.

Why had it been tucked away,

And how long had it been there?

I held it tightly; ran to dad,

To show him what I??™d found.

He studied it and marveled,

Though he uttered not a sound.

Then suddenly his eyes lit up,

As memories rushed to mind.

T??™ was a gift to mom from years ago,

This locket of gold so fine.

I opened it most gently,

And dad smiled at the sight.

Photos inside of two young sons,

No more than little tikes.

Then a surprise ??“ a girl arrived,

But the locket was full by then.

Is that when it was hidden away,

To never be worn again?

A locket with such mystery,

Left me somewhat stunned.

Then I started suspecting,

An angel was having fun.

Did mom plan this years ago,

And was she by my side?

Smiling as I discovered,

The locket left with pride.

When polished it was brilliant,

This remembrance from my mom.

And once it glistened as if new,

I respectfully put it on.

Now I wear her locket proudly,

And inside those photos stay.

The same as when mom wore it,

Long ago in younger days.

Lnstrlady@aol.com

Kathy Baker

Lnstrlady@aol.com

I was born and raised in the small town of Augusta, Kansas that is only a few miles outside of Wichita. I married a native Texan in 1977 and was soon transplanted to Dallas. A large city offers many things, but I miss the slower pace of small town America. I have two stepchildren and three grandchildren. Pets have always played a huge part in my life, and I can??™t imagine a home without them. In fact, they were my inspiration to begin writing. I??™ve had stories or poems featured by Starfish, Storytime Tapestry (Senior Writer), Driftwood, Inspired Buffalo, Women With Heart, Texas Bob??™s World, Hearts With Soul, Petwarmers, Pearlsoup, SFPNN, Christian Voices, Heartwarmers, Warm Fuzzy Stories, In The Light of Angels, Springfield Online, Skywriter, MS Musings, A Click to Your Heart (Japan), Heartcatchers, and Insight of the Day. I was more than honored when Starfish added me to their Wall of Fame as a Featured Writer. I??™ve always felt my one mission in life was to give loving homes to the dear creatures God has provided for us ??“ they are always at our side with their unconditional love.