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Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
"No, really!"

My Favorite Bit of Paper Cup Philosophy

The Way I See It #76

The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating - in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Petals and Pricks

After 58 years of some really convoluted relationships, I have determined that the ones between mothers and their children are the hairiest. Oh, yes, mother-child arrangements are the most schizophrenic of all - soft, moist, vibrantly colored petals, some even scented, juxtaposed with the equally colorful pods with thorns so long and thin as to be almost invisible. There's the prize, with all of its elements. Take it or leave it. Here, for every mother's child, whether you grew just beneath her heart, or in it, is my Mother's Day offering ~



Yes, I did plant my body right in that mighty stand of cholla with my camera. Yes, I got jabbed. No, it didn't hurt nearly as much as some of the metaphorical pricks. Nor were the petals as lovely as some of the intangible ones that I have enjoyed.
Posted by Leslie Morgan at 9:34 AM
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12 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 8, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    A right jolly cholla for a Mother's Once agin Happy Mother's Day Leslie
    wv rersagnal - mine's almost down to my knees.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leslie MorganMay 8, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Having a grand day, Tag - thank you. My rersagnal is running in reverse today, however. I burned the midnight oil a little longer than planned last night. I'm old.

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  3. NuminosityMay 8, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    So poignantly expressed, Leslie
    xoxo Kim

    PS, imagine my surprise when a fellow bead vendor at the show I'm doing asks, "what was it like meeting Leslie?" I guess I garnered you a follower along the way! I responded positively of course!
    One of these days I'll get around to blogging about it I suppose when I get my internet issues all ironed out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DoozyannerMay 8, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    Oh, nicely put! I have experienced the thorns and petals both as a child (female child in a long line of male worhippers), and as a mom trying very hard not to continue the trend. Luckily, for me and for them, I have one son and one daughter. They each get to be my favorite!

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  5. Leslie MorganMay 8, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    @ Numinosity Beads ~ Kim, I knew that new follower had to be courtesy of you because of the "beads" in her name (beadybaby), but I couldn't get any other info on her - she doesn't have a profile. I appreciate you and her, though. More at the party always seems better! How funny to have someone walk up to you and say "What was Leslie like?"

    I'm glad you likes my petals and pricks. I'd not pre-planned anything and that seemed appropriate to that picture I've had in the can for a year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Leslie MorganMay 8, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    @ Doozyanner ~ I'm glad you liked the thorns and petals theme. It's all pretty twisted, isn't it? Sometimes, across 21 years, I have patted myself on the back for this: it is literally true that when I was faced with a parenting dilemma, I thought about what my own would have done and I ran 360-degrees. Oh, yes, Amber would not suffer what I suffered. But - hey! Today's news: Amber isn't Leslie. Maybe my folks' methods would have worked just fine for her and my own weren't so wonderful. We just try, right, to do the best we can with what we have?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rachel FentonMay 9, 2011 at 1:32 AM

    Happy mother's day, Les, from a scenty-mental follower!

    Chevrons and threes at ya in multiples!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Leslie MorganMay 9, 2011 at 4:31 AM

    @ Rachel ~ Oh, you are a scenty-mental one and I appreciate the likes of you! It's good to see you out and about, Rae. You've been (obviously) busy outside the 'sphere. I've missed you. And I'll take those chevrons and all the 3s, 6s, 9s and 12s I can get.

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  9. MoreCakeMay 9, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    I'm trying to come up with a metaphor about how when the mother and daughter see the petals to be a different color, or when the daughter points out something about the flower that is so totally obvious to her but other people see differently...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Leslie MorganMay 9, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    @ CramCake ~ Oh, hmmm . . why did I know my post would affect you in just that way just now? I've got sad news for you, Grasshopper. Maybe no one else's story would be like mine, but my story is JUST like mine. I've learned, to my deep disappointment, that just because we share 50% of our DNA with those women, it doesn't mean we're of the same species or home planet. How that shakes out in practical application probably varies by each mom/daughter relationship. But it's not always a deeply, mutually appreciative relationship. And I'm sad about that. Yesterday, I was niggled to death about maybe placing a call to my mother. I caviled unconvincingly for awhile, but there was no let up. Finally, I got real: "It would be as near a guarantee to making me drink as any I can think of." Oh! That was understood and I was left in peace for the rest of the day and evening.

    ReplyDelete
  11. KirkMay 9, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    To: Leslie Morgan

    Re: Post titled "Petals and Pricks"

    Dear Leslie,

    You're right.

    'nuff said.

    Sincerely yours,

    Kirk.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Leslie MorganMay 9, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    @ Kirk ~ It's been awhile since I received a memo, but that was well done. I'm glad we're on the same page.

    ReplyDelete

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