Wednesday, May 19, 2010

My Mother

My mother died yesterday. My sister and I were with her, sitting by her side, holding her hand.

My mother is the reason I became a writer. When I was six years old, she gave me one of those marble composition notebooks and told me that it was to be my poetry writing notebook. So I started writing poetry. What else could I do?

My mother hated to spend money, but our house was always filled with books: library books from the biweekly pilgrimage we made to the public library every other Saturday morning without fail; free sample books that we got every year when we went with her to the New Jersey teachers' convention in Atlantic City and cruised the aisles of the convention hall for examination copies of Catcher in the Rye and Anna Karenina.

My mother gave us summer writing projects. The most arduous was our massive Sturbridge Village report, which we were required to make after our family vacation to the colonial village in Massachusetts - complete with a story, assigned to us by our mother, written in the voice of an 18th century girl. I did not feel more relief upon defending my doctoral dissertation than I did after finishing my Sturbridge Village report.

My mother was a published writer herself: of articles for Instructor magazine, of children's stories for Humpty-Dumpty and Jack and Jill, and in her later years, of exquisite letters to the Boulder Daily Camera - vignettes of life in Boulder and warm commentary on articles in the paper. I found dozens of the letters - each one typed on her manual typewriter with carbon paper, so she'd keep a copy, with the published letter paper-clipped to it - when Cheryl and I went through her files this week.

My mother was so proud of my career as a writer. She loved to come to my book signings and buy multiple copies of my books, even though of course I would have given her as many as she wanted for free. When each of my books was published, she was always convinced that THIS one would win the Newbery. She was always wrong about that, of course, but I have to say that she wasn't wrong about much else. She was a keen and wry observer of human nature, quick to detect faults and flaws, but equally quick with her lavish appreciation.

And now I have to try to imagine what life will be without her.

20 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry for your loss, Claudia. Clearly, from the words of your tribute, her memory will be treasured, and the gifts she passed on always with you.

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  2. Oh, sweet friend, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Thank you for sharing your treasured memories with us. Love you.

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  3. What a lovely tribute to your mother, Claudia. I can imagine how great the loss is for you. How wonderful that she had the chance to share your success all these years and how proud of you she must have been. I hope that is a great comfort to you.

    Love,
    Pat

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  4. Claudia, thank you for sharing your mother with us. What a beautiful tribute to her, and to your relationship with her. What a treasure she was to you, and you to her. My heart goes out to you at this time. Love, Deborah

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  5. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You know how much I enjoyed your mother. I don't think I ever mentioned a book that she hadn't read or was in the process of reading! She was funny and bright and she raised a very special daughter. My prayers are with you.

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  6. Claudia,

    I'm so sorry to hear this sad news, and very moved to learn about how your mother helped you grow into a life of writing What an amazing gift she gave you, and it sounds as if your words were gifts to her.

    With love, Rebecca

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  7. What a beautiful tribute to your mother, Claudia. Sending peace and healing to you and your sister as you celebrate her life.

    xo,
    Laurie Calkhoven

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  8. Claudia,

    This beautiful piece of writing, this tribute to your mom, is the evidence of what she gave you and then, too, what you gave back to her. How lucky you were to have such a loving mother, and it's obvious she knew how blessed she was to have you for her daughter.

    Love,
    Katie

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  9. Oh Claudia, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing these thoughts. She was clearly an exceptional woman. May her memory be a comfort and a blessing to you always.
    xo,
    Brenda

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  10. Dear Claudia,

    Please accept my condolences. I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad you have such wonderful memories of your mother and that you were able to spend time together with her and with your sister during this difficult period.

    much love, Naomi

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  11. Claudia, your mother is gone physically, but your tribute shows that her spirit will remain with you always. I send you my thoughts and prayers. --Carol Linda

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  12. Thinking of you during this time. Your tribute to your mother was so dear. I know you will miss her very much. Our hearts are with you.
    Amanda, Michael, and Henry

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  13. Oh, Claudia. So sorry and sad to hear this news. Thanks for sharing this. She sounds like a beautiful person.
    Hugs,
    Jill

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  14. Oh, what a wonderful mother and inspiration. I am so sorry for your loss.

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  15. Claudia, I am very sorry about your mother's death. Thank you for sharing this eulogy with us. I praise God for the great blessing of your mother's life.

    As you imagine what your life will be in the future, I hope that you see your self surrounded by a community of loving friends. You can see the evidence above, and I expect, below.

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  17. Claudia, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I honestly think that only the passing of time makes it more bearable, and i hope for you that the time passes quickly. Every word you write keeps her spirit present in the world. Big hug to you and your family,
    Wendy

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  18. I just read this today, Claudia. I'm so sorry for your loss. Love, Sally

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  19. Dear Claudia, I'm so sorry for your loss. So many of the details you mentioned about your mom could have been about my mom too. We were very lucky daughters, and that makes the grief very hard to bear. Hugs to you, my friend.
    Laura

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  20. Claudia, my thanks to Cheryl Harness for telling me about your loss. I'm deeply saddened but most appreciative for the loving tribute you have shared with us. I didn't know your mother, but now I know her a little bit, and I'm gratefu to you for introducing us.

    David

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