Whenever I visited the parents, and then later only the Mama, I was sent home with a care package. Lots of fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden, as well as freezer bags full of cooked rice, lumpia, pork adobo, fried chicken, and bibingka.
Whether I was single or married, living alone or with roommates, food always came home with me. Much of the vegetables and fruits were given away to neighbors and friends. The cooked food went into the freezer and eventually most were eaten by friends, spouse, and myself.
In my 20s, I said to the Mama, "No, no, that's too much."
In my 30s, I sighed and just accepted the food.
In my 40s, I appreciated everything that she picked in her garden and cooked in her kitchen.
In my 50s, the Husband and I were living with the Mama. If we had not, I'm very sure that when we visited the Mama, she would've given us lots of food to take home.
And, now that I'm in my 60s, I realize that the Mama was sending her love home with me through her food.
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This is such a sweet post. Makes me appreciate my Mom much more.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteMom's are great and this just shows how much mom's are always there no matter how old we get
ReplyDeleteThat's for sure, Birgit.
DeleteI love this...makes me miss my mom even more. Although she really didn't cook, and thus my dislike of cooking. LOL!
ReplyDeleteDB McNicol, author
April A-Z Participant
Thanks, Donna. :-)
DeleteYou are so youthful, I would have no idea you were in your sixties. My mom still loves to cook for me as well, and I always appreciate it. Sometimes I like to make things a bit more spicy than they do, so I just add a bit of chili pepper to dishes. I also like to cook myself, and your talk of rice is making me hungry.
ReplyDeleteThat's very sweet of you, Julia. I don't think of myself as old, which makes me realize that the Mama didn't think of herself as old when she was my age now. For that matter, that she's old today, well except when her body won't do what she wants it to do.
DeleteWhat a sweet thought. Yes, that food was her love!
ReplyDeleteMost definitely. She's of the old school who doesn't express it in words.
DeleteWonderful art and post. I love your mom sending all that food home with you. Parents show love with food in so many cultures.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteMommas are good at doing that. I'll have to call mine today.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
A to Z Cohost
M is for Movies
Hope you have a wonderful chat.
DeleteAww :) So sweet! And very true. My grandmothers do that too...
ReplyDelete@TarkabarkaHolgy from
Multicolored Diary - Epics from A to Z
MopDog - 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary
Grandmothers and mamas, how fortunate!
DeleteMagandang Umaga. Gusto kong lumpia.
ReplyDeleteMothers have many ways to express their love and one is definitely through food. would have loved your mothers food.
Yummm, lumpia. Methinks it's time to make some. Thanks for dropping by. :-)
DeleteThe giving of food is the universal welcome, or gift or meaning of I love you. You are blessed to have had such a giving mother and I enjoyed you introducing her to me. Thank you! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that you enjoyed your visit, Lisa. :-)
DeleteWonderful post. Now I sit here nostalgically thinking of my mom and her food.
ReplyDeleteSweet!
DeleteYum! I enjoy bibingka too, and it's easy to get on Maui.You might want to explain what that is, if you haven't already. Love lumpia and have made adobo a few times too.
ReplyDeleteMaui Jungalow
Good idea, Courtney. I wonder how I can make an O post out of bibingka.
DeleteThat's what the entirety of her garden is ... love!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I want to draw that.
DeleteYou have been so generous to share stories of her with all of us . . . You've made me feel like I'm part of the family - even from a distance - Her Love, Through YOU has encouraged me . . . sending love and gratitude.
ReplyDelete