That Wicked Sense of Humor

Dave's mom was probably the best mother-in-law I could ever imagine. She was lovely, caring, fun, interesting, enthusiastic, loving and had a wicked sense of humor.

The first time we met (while Dave and I were still in college) I was very "intimidated"….after all, she was a Wellesley grad, supporting herself and two sons as a very successful real estate agent after Dave's dad died and seemed so polished and sophisticated. She was from the EAST and could track the family tree back to John Alden and Priscilla on the Mayflower!

But I loved her son, and she loved him….and came to love me too. We never lived nearby, so our visits were usually timed to share a holiday or a long weekend. She traveled a lot after she re-married so sometimes we went to visit her in Florida. One thing everyone noticed about her was her intense interest in you as an individual. When she met someone for the first time they had her undivided attention - she zeroed in because she wanted to know them and they responded in kind. I always said she was "a people magnet".

As she aged she faced the challenges associated with macular degeneration. Had to give up reading her beloved books, so ordered books on tape. Could no longer do her beautiful needlepoint but played bridge for a long time with her friends, just using cards with bigger numbers. Could no longer drive so hired a driver. Couldn't see movies, but would sit in the front row for the symphony or a play with her "spy glasses" held up to her eyes taking in what she could.

When we would go for a visit she'd ask me to take her to the Hallmark store to read greeting cards. She always kept a selection in her drawer for any occasion but could no longer select them herself. So we would stand together and I would read card after card - her tradition was to only pick the most "wicked" ones as birthday cards for friends and for me. The "nastier" the better! Each year, when her card arrived in November I'd prepare myself - and laugh to see that it was one of the ones we'd found together. And I'd march off to the store to find one equally "nasty" to send her for her December birthday. We loved our "tradition".

I remembered all of this today while looking for a card to send. When she died I found her card stash and brought them home with me - I now send them to my best friends (but the pile is running out).  And the other wicked thing I treasure is drying in my dish rack.

One year for Christmas she bought me a spoon holder for the top of the stove. She'd found it at a gallery in Massachusetts. Can you see the center design?

It's road kill - a small frog. The artist pressed it into the clay, added the cane and there you go…an oddly silly image of a once-upon-a-time-frog who crossed the road at the wrong time. I'm the only one I know who has anything like this….wicked funny.