The worst holiday for sleeping that is. I darn near hit the floor Thursday morning when canons and rapid fire popping exploded in my ears. Disorientation turned into annoyance faster than the firecrackers could sound off.
This is how you honor your mother? You got to be freaking kidding me. It is 2:58 am!
I can only imagine how I would have been fairing during those early morning moments (and for the balance of the day) had our contact not given me warning. “Yes, it is our tradition to hold parades for the mothers. To set off mortars and fire crackers outside the house and then go inside to celebrate her.”
In principal, I suppose this all sounds delightful. Being celebrated on a grand scale and all. However, most mothers I know covet the peace of morning. It seems to me that the fastest way to a serious old school whipping would be to poke the proverbial sleeping bear with a firecracker.
Don’t moms in the course of time change enough wet sheets and diapers to not have to change their own on Mothers Day?
Lying there thoroughly baffled by this last round of culture shock, I got to thinking about another unique way they “celebrate” mothers here. The kids are given two days off school. Serious, two whole days off of school. Now that may be because the streets sound and look like you are strolling a war zone but, regardless of that minor detail, I know some mothers and while they love their kids, they love their kids going to school.
At almost nine that evening ALL the church bells started to ring. Just clanging up a good o’l storm. Close to irate from persistent noise all day, I lay there cursing the ceiling and really trying to decide if it was a final tribute to honor the mothers or a last ditch effort to remind any promiscuous darling to hurry home, alone. Because if you don’t, I muttered out loud, you may never sleep again.
Mom, I want there to be no question on this Mothers Day 2012 how much I love you so I want to make you a few promises:
– I will only wake you between 10 pm and 6 am if it is with a call from overseas to let you hear the sound of my sweet voice.
– I will not set off a mortar this year or fireworks during said hours to show my love for you rather I will, like you have so many times in my life, greet you in gentle song and with a warm wash cloth to clear the sleepy from your tired eyes.
– I will learn to cook something wonderful this month, there is a chocolate making tour I am eyeing in particular, and make you breakfast in 2013. Yes, chocolate for breakfast — I DO love you!
– I will save up hugs from this Mothers Day and provide them in advance of next Mothers Day when I see you in a few short months.
Deal?
