Rant #2,371: Mama

Happy Mothers Day.

And I really mean that, because today is actually Mothers Day.

In Mexico, that is, so for all the Mexican mothers out there who read this column every day, I wish you the best.

For all others--or at least all other Americans--Mothers Day is on Sunday, May 12, and to some, it is the holiest day of the year.

How can you not celebrate those that gave birth to you, that decided to sacrifice their bodies for nine months to bring you into this world?

Sure, the fun is in the getting there, but once there, moms go through plenty to have us, so I salute all the moms out there, because they deserve it.

My wife certainly deserves all the plaudits she is going to get from myself and our son, and my mom deserves plaudits too--and she has plenty of battle scars to show what she want through--from myself and my sister.

I have heard numerous stories of how impossible I was as a little kid, how I was truly "Larry the Menace," into everything and completely unstoppable.

My mom went through lots of physical episodes too when she had me, but it was my time, and I guess in my own way, I took advantage of the situation entirely without really realizing what I was doing.

I have heard all the stories, about me breaking away from her, running into the middle of traffic on a busy street, and cars screeching to a halt every which way so that they wouldn't hit me; I have heard all the stories about me being into everything, discovering the world, and making my mother absolutely beside herself, but the best story is the shopping story.

My mother took me shopping in probably mid to late 1959. She was very obviously pregnant with my sister, and as was my pattern, I must have caused an uproar in the store, doing things and getting into people's hair.

Finally, my mother found everything that she wanted and was waiting on the checkout line, and an older woman, standing behind her on the line, had experienced my acting up.

She said to my mother, looking at me, "And you're going to have another after THIS?" and yes, the emphasis was on the word "this," meaning me.

My mother completed her purchase, probably ran home with me--she did not drive at the time--and cried the rest of the afternoon.

And then my sister came, and I was the "big brother," and I calmed down quite a bit.

My sister was no walk in the park either, but I guess we both turned out pretty well.

Just next week, I celebrate my daughter's birthday, and I remember the day she came into the world so vividly, but she was a piece of cake compared to the little boy who came into my wife and my life seven years later.

Our son was very much like me, into everything, and as a little kid, he loved to walk behind his stroller and yes, break away from us on occasion, but what he would do is that he would hide where all the clothes were hung in department stores, and it was very difficult to find him.

It was all my wife could do to stop from exploding, literally, but we got through that phase and right now, we have gotten through other phases with him, and he is a good fellow.

And yes, his mom is very proud of his accomplishments. They might seem small to some, but to his mom and I, some of them have been monumental.

So to my wife, I wish her the happiest of Mothers Days.

She deserves it.

During that day, we will also visit my mother-in-law, who is interred in a nearby cemetery. I have heard so many nice stories about her; I only got to know her for a few months before she passed, and she seemed to be a really nice woman.

And I do think of my grandmothers on this day too. They were from a different generation, but they were strong women, but so, so different: one in the old generation, one in the new.

They had a great influence on myself and my sister, and I salute them.

And I keep on bringing her up, but my sister is the mom to three boys, and for that alone, she deserves a gold star.

And again, happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, and many, many more.

Speak to you again on Monday. Have a great weekend.