A Poem for My Ornery, Adorable Mom
Charlotte Jeanne Becker Turned 91 Last Week
I grabbed a string of gawdy Mardi Gras beads and drove up 15 North to spend a morning with Mom in Lewisburg.
Though her daily routine continues to shrink due to memory loss, arthritis, and her surroundings (in an assisted living apartment building), her innate jokester shines through. That, and her deep affection for me, her “baby” son.
I usually walk in prepping for bittesweetness and always walk out with it in spades.
We took a ride to Dollar General, and even though it was morning, she requested a chocolate milkshake. I got her one at May’s Drive-In, and I took away some eggs and bacon. We shared the shake.
I wrote a poem for Mom in 2009 when she was still quite active: Remembering all the grandkids’ birthdays, driving with Dad to local eateries, and keeping local auctions in business.