A Day for Mothers

Started off my morning with the Colliers Junior Classics Harvest of Holidays anthology. Did the material for Arbor Day first, since I forgot to do it last month. "Mr. Plum and the Little Green Tree" is the long piece here, a sweet story about a kindly cobbler who saves the little tree in front of his shop from being chopped down. The other material is all poetry, including the famous "Trees." The long Mother's Day piece is "My Mother Is the Most Beautiful Woman In the World." A little Ukranian girl gets lost in the wheat fields and tells people that her mother is the most beautiful woman in the world when they ask her where she is. People tease her when she does find her plump, genial mother, but her mom knows that her daughter can see with her heart.

Called my own mother even before I had breakfast. Mom herself seemed to be in a pretty decent mood. She's been walking into Yorktown, a small tourist enclave that, as fans of Hamilton know, was where Cornwallis surrendered to end the Revolutionary War. Mom says it's expensive but attractive and a nice walk. They're not far from Williamsburg, too. She's more concerned about my brother Keefe and his wife Julia. Keefe just had surgery on his eyes. One came out just fine. They're waiting to see how the other will be. They're also having difficulty with their older daughter Aurora, who may have special needs and need more help.

I told Mom about my own long week. She was really understanding about all the trouble I had, especially with Jessa and with getting loans. She's having a hard time buying a home down in Virginia, too. Apparently, they're one of the more expensive southern states. 

After I got off with her, I put on Miss Peggy Lee Sings the Songs of Cy Coleman while eating breakfast. Coleman's known for his songs from Broadway shows nowadays, like "Hey Look Me Over" from Wildcat, "I've Got Your Number" from Little Me, and "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity. What's not as well-remembered as that he also wrote pop songs with no stage connections. The best-known is probably the hit "The Best Is Yet To Come," which is usually associated nowadays with Frank Sinatra. Lee wrote three songs with Coleman she performs here, "I'm In Love Again," "That's My Style," and "Then Is Then (And Now Is Now)." "When In Rome, Do as the Romans Do" was written for Little Me but not used. "Pass Me By" is from the romantic comedy Father Goose.

Headed off to work after the record ended and got there on time for once. Good thing, too. As one of my co-workers pointed out, the Acme was a zoo for the entire afternoon. Everyone wanted flowers for Mom and to make her a big dinner. Thank heavens I spent the entire afternoon outside. There was plenty of help. The morning bagger was there when I arrived, the evening bagger when I left. They handled the trash and the inside chores. I just pushed carts, enjoying the sun this morning, then the clouds and occasional light showers when they rolled in around 2:30. Absolutely no trouble whatsoever. 

I had slightly more problems refilling my blood pressure medication after work. My insurance had expired. I already knew about it. Apparently, it expired this February, likely due to the lack of hours I had last winter. I just sent the paperwork for the extension in the mail today. Thankfully, the medicine only cost $13, which is hardly a problem. I forgot honey yesterday, too. 

After I got home, I changed and finished listening to Nature's Baby. This Lena Horne album couldn't be more 1971 if it tried. I think I like her version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" better than the Beatles' rendition, and she does nice versions of "A Song for You," "It's Not Easy Being Green," and "Your Song" too. "Think About Your Troubles" is from the unique animated TV musical The Point. "I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way (Ain't Nobody Perfect)" and "Only the Moon and Me" are the best of the lesser-known material.

My Trolls album arrived from Amazon around this point. This was the only soundtrack played frequently at the after-school program that I didn't have. It's only $19 at Amazon right now, which is cheap for a recent soundtrack release. 

Finished the night with the Sunday Match Game marathon. Mothers appeared on the panel as well as in the audience. Peter Issakson's mother came to all his appearances, and apparently accompanied him wherever he went. Likewise, Betty White's beloved mother Tess often came to see her daughter play. Gene's mother was in the audience at least once. Brett proudly pointed out her beautiful redheaded daughter Leslie in the audience (who looked a lot like a younger version of her mother).

There were mothers on the panel, too. As mentioned last week, Jo Ann Pflug and Patti Deusch both appeared while pregnant, Patti multiple times. TV and movie moms who did at least one week on the show included Bonnie Franklin of One Day at a Time, Isobel Sanford of The Jeffersons, Esther Rolle of Good Times, Michael Lerned of The Waltons, Barbara Billingsly of Leave It to Beaver on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Jamie Lee Curtis of the Freaky Friday films, and Ethel Merman, who played Gopher's mother on The Love Boat. 

Celebrate Mother's Day matching with some of the wackiest mothers on television in this sweet and heartfelt marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Mother's Day Bash 2026

(Oh, and the showers have continued off and on for the rest of the evening. There was even a thunderstorm at one point, though that's long gone.)