's Mother's Day 2010 motd

[Guest guest]

SHOPPING SPREE!

Sunday, 09 May 2010

Mother's Day was always a very special and important day at 926 St. Louis Street in New Orleans. Even when I moved away from home, I always found my way back home to spend Mother's Day with my own sweet mother, Shirley. I'd fly into New Orleans a few days before Mother's Day so I could take her shopping. Shirley loved to shop! And I just adored taking her out and watching as she "did her thing" at the stores.

When I got to the house, my mother would always say to me, "Dicky, I don't need anything. I have enough clothes. You don't need to spend your money!"And I would just laugh as I walked her to the car. Whenever I went to New Orleans to see her, I'd always rent a limo for Shirley and me to make our rounds. And even when I wasn't in town, I'd have a car pick her up twice a week so she could run her errands. A shopping spree for Shirley meant hitting six stores in two hours. (Whew!) She had her favorite stores to visit and they were all along Canal Street, the big shopping street in downtown New Orleans. She and I would walk together from store to store. And as we walked, she'd repeat to me..."Dicky, I don't need anything. I have enough clothes. You don't need to spend your money!" I'd just laugh some more, even as we walked into each store.

We'd begin with looking at hats. (My mother always wore a pretty hat on Mother's Day.) I'd go behind the counter and try on some of the hats myself for her to look at them on me, first. Some of them had big rims covered with flowers or were adorned with big-old feathers. Shirley would just get hysterical watching my "hat fashion show!"After I finished my little performance, she would try them on...herself before selecting that perfect hat. Our next stop would be the purses department where she'd select the perfect purse to go with her new hat.Then we'd take the elevator up to the dresses and suits. (Shirley was a petite, by the way.) She'd select a few outfits and the saleslady would bring them to the dressing room for her to try them on. While Shirley was in the dressing room, I'd pick out some really funky-looking outfits and send them to her dressing room. Once the saleslady brought them in, Shirley would shout out, "Dicky! Don't try to pick out my clothes...I'll do it"

As she tried on each outfit, Shirley would come out of the dressing room to model each one for me. She'd even put on one of those funky outfits I'd picked out, just for the heck of it. She'd have everyone in the department howling! After trying on each of the outfits she'd chosen, Shirley would make her final decision and we were ready to head home.When we got back to the house, she tried everything on again, from the hat to the purse and model the complete outfit for me. I always felt good seeing my mother feeling so pretty. And boy, was she ever pretty!Now we had to complete her fabulous look. So, the next day, I'd send her to have her hair and nails done. Then, that evening, we'd all go out to dinner together. (My brother, Lenny, left the shopping to me and Shirley.) But as the three of us walked into the restaurant together, my brother and I held our mother's hand. We were just so proud that she was our Mom. And in our eyes...she was the world's best Mom!

I miss having dinner with Shirley so much. I miss visiting her in New Orleans and her coming to see me here in Los Angeles. I just miss her. But I have so many wonderful memories of my dear, sweet Shirley and I'll be reminiscing about all of them today.If you're blessed to have your own mother with you in your life, please give her a big hug today from me today. And if you yourself are a mother...HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY from me to you!Love,