 |
| "I remember Mama... on her Birthday!" |
“I’m
Just Sayin’”
by Alan P. Scaglione
Today is my mother’s birthday.
Happy birthday, Mama.
She would have been 88 today!
If she had lived past 53—but she
didn’t.
She’s been in heaven 35 years now.
I know because…I’ve been out of high
school that long.
She passed away in my senior year.
Not something I wish for anyone, but…
Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.
I’ve always wondered how my life would
have been different IF… she had lived.
Rose Matilda Scaglione was a quiet
rebel.
She rebelled against tradition by
naming me.
I should have been named after her
father.
Italian tradition—the passing on of
the father’s names.
My oldest brother was named after our
father.
My older brother was named after our
father’s father.
And I … was supposed to be named after
her father.
But Mama had another idea. Nope—she
was through with traditions.
She decided—she was naming me after
her favorite movie star actor.
ALAN LADD!
Yep—that’s why I spell it A-L-A-N !
I’ve never really liked my name, but…
I know how hard my mom fought to name me!
She also had some funny ways.
She had this saying when things weren’t
going her way… she would say “Aw JUNK!”
Guess it was her euphemism!
And she loved jellybeans! The licorice
ones were her favorite!
Funny what you remember about
someone…even when they’ve been gone 35 years!
I’ve lived two thirds of my life
WITHOUT my Mother!
I hope most of you cannot say that!
I remember what she taught me:
“Life is for the Living—don’t waste it
on the dead!” taught me to make the most out of the life I’ve been given.
“Family is everything—your kids come
first—defend them always!” taught me to always put my family, my kids first!
Those two things have shaped my life!
That’s why I say “Make a Memory—it may
need to last a lifetime!”
And the other…well, that warrants a
story.
First day in first grade. Miss Cagnina
decided that it was not good for me to be left handed. She and her ruler
decided to put an end to that.
She hit my left hand several times
with her ruler—convinced she was “helping my future” by forcing me to use my
right hand!
I came home with a blistered left
hand. My Mama saw it and asked what had happened. I told her. She said she
going to school with me.
The next day, my Mama walked into
class and told Miss Cagnina that “If God made Alan left-handed, you have no
right to change that!”
Miss Cagnina responded “But he will be
an outcast and will never succeed in life—being left-handed is a curse!”
My Mom retorted “You touch my son’s
hand again with your ruler and you will see what a curse looks like!”
I was 6 years old, but I knew—I was
proud of Mama!
And…if Miss Cagnina could see me now!
Guess this outcast loser would show her what God can do with a lefty He created
and blessed!
I know my Mom instilled in me to
always be my best, not listen to what others thought of me and always believe
in myself!
I got that from a Mom who named me by
defying tradition, fighting for her right to choose and giving me HER name!
She also taught me “They are never
really gone AS LONG as we always talk about them!”
Guess she is still with me—even today,
when I will go to her grave and put flowers for her birthday!
The Word says “Honor your father and MOTHER that your days may be long…!” Exodus
20:12
TODAY-- Honor your parents, by
sharing your memories if they are gone—and by spending some quality time with
them if they are still with you!
There’s a blessing that comes from
honoring our parents—we should take note of that!
I just wanted to honor my Mama by
remembering her…and still missing her… 35 years later!
Until Next Time
I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”
SELECT the
link BELOW! SEND me Email! Share your thoughts!
No comments:
Post a Comment