I remember mama

I remember mama was TINA to daddy’s IKE, w’out the violence.

I remember mama being so excited the first time she’d worn “blue jeans,” (this was after my father’s passing) that she called us all over to show us, she was so cute and proud of herself.

I remember mama was so scared of white folks that she wouldn’t call 411 because the recorded voice was ……….

I remember mama used to say, “Boy git off that phone, running that bill up like that!” She really thought the longer you talked the higher the bill.

I remember mama quitting smoking. Just cold turkey QUIT!

I remember mama determinedly saying “I don’t need no help, I’m going to do this, by myself.” This was after she’d severely sprained her ankle, while in her 80s, and the doctors had told her she wouldn’t be able to walk w’out crutches or cane. She never, not one day, used either!

I remember mama baking her special biscuits and showing me how to and swearing me to secrecy.

I remember mama bought a duck, thinking it was a turkey, for the annual Thanksgiving family dinner. Although I wondered what happened to the white meat, and why it was so oily, I never said a word.

I remember mama calling me over to thread a needle for her and me saying “Mama you called me all the way across town for this?”

I remember the day of mama’s funeral. The sky was dark at 9am and it had rained all night and it looked like it was going to rain all day, man did it rain! It was that windy kind of rain that lasts all day and hurts when it hits you. The service was to start at 11 am at mama’s church.

I remember the sky cleared and the wind calmed in less than 10 minutes. The sun came out and beamed down on the service and the subsequent procession.

I remember standing at the graveside, holding my daughter’s hand and hearing her whisper to her twin brother, “See, I told you granny would fix it!”

I remember immediately after the graveside service being thankful for the sky that darkened, being thankful for the wind that suddenly picked up, being thankful for the rain that gushed down as if it were waiting for this moment, that had finally arrived.

I remember the tears that fell and my little girl asking “Daddy are you okay, are you crying?”

I remember lying and saying “No baby, I’m okay its just the rain.”

Its funny the things I remember about mama. Its also funny that a woman of meek and mild character like my mama would have the power to control the elements like that.

I remember everyone making it back to the church for the repast in the basement.

I remember mama saying “TAH TAH,” (at the repast!) just like she used to when she was thankful and happy. Her family and friends were all safe and sound.

I remember my mama. Don’t you forget yours.

I remember

TUCKER