It’s been quite some time since I’ve written a blog that connects a reader’s random idea to the wonderful world of Specialty Box &
Today I open my top secret list of suggestions and the winning words are offered up by Pamela Fialkoff. She inspires this month’s message with the phrase “call your mother” (which, you may not realize, is MY mother’s ever-so-subtle way of suggesting that she’d like ME to call MY mother more frequently).
Before I proceed to thoroughly (and lovingly) embarrass my gem of a mama, allow me to get one thing out of the way:
My mother gave birth to me. I work at Specialty Box. Connection between the two is officially made.
Now onto the fun!
Two of my favorite Mima stories (Mima is what my sons call their grandmother) are related to Alexander Graham Bell’s outdated invention.
“Anniversary Surprise“
It’s my parent’s wedding anniversary and I call to congratulate her (every year married to my father is reason for affirmations; come on, can I really spend a full blog making fun of my mom without throwing in a little dig at dear old dad? I love you Dad!).
She picks up the phone and immediately after I say “Happy Anniversary” I can tell that my own mother has no idea that she is speaking to me.
“Mom!”, I complain, “it’s your son!”
“Oh Jason, thank you so much for calling” she hums in her sing song tone.
“Mom!”, I complain again, “it’s your oldest son. You remember me don’t you? It’s Eric.”
“Oh Eric, thank you so much for calling” she melodically repeats the phrase as if she’s rehearsed it for days.
While still offended (and I’m glad to say that the therapy is working) I sigh and say, “Mom, how do you NOT know it’s me? I called you on your cell phone. You have caller ID.”
My mother’s instant and honest response displays one of the attributes which makes her such a remarkable woman.
“Oh Eric, I never look. I like to be surprised.”
“Never Talk to Strangers“
We’re in the middle of a family gathering and the phone rings. My mother (before the advent of caller ID) picks up the call and begins speaking.
Many moments pass as the rest of my family (yours truly included) eavesdrops on the conversation.
My dad, God bless him for being married to my mother for almost 50 years (there you go Dad; I hooked you up with some props), looks up from the table and asks, “Pamela, who are you talking to?”
Again, my mother shows her true colors.
“Oh, it’s a wrong number”, she shrugs and returns to her call.
Coincidentally (and I swear that the “call your mother” phrase was randomly selected just minutes before I began writing) we’ve been short staffed this week and my mom, knowing it was very busy, asked if she could help out.
“I can answer phones” she giggled, “I’ll say, ‘Specialty Box, Eric’s mom speaking.’ ”
I smiled, thanked her for the offer and politely declined.
What in the world was I thinking???!!! Mom, you’re hired!!!