Post by cam83 on May 6, 2005 13:11:00 GMT -5
When she passed thru New Haven, Connecticut, she made it a must to stop and visit her friends Debbie and Theresa, as well as her Mom and Bernice. And of course other friends. It was neat to surprise them, and not give her customary advanced call. Her Mom was getting older, and she had softened so much in the last few years. Agnes had also learned so much in the years since her husband's death. She now spent whatever time she had in cultivating her relationships. In truth, Agnes was a nice lady, but complex, as everyone else is. Yes, she realized that she had made mistakes in rearing up Karen and Richard and she wished she could have been a better mother, but she did the best with what she knew how at the time. She even realized Karen's eating disorder was a psychological disorder, and it stemmed from her inability to feel loved. She hadn't meant any harm to Karen for showing her favoritism to Richard. She didn't think that it would bother her, but later learned that it did.
While staying at her Mother's condo in New Haven, Karen and Agnes had time to have a heart to heart talk. Karen had just come in around 6:30 p.m. from a demanding day, and was exhausted. She had been up for the past 13 hours and all she wanted to do was hit the sack and zonk out. Karen walked in the house, and her Mother, upon hearing someone enter the house, came to the hallway.
"Oh. It's you. I didn't expect you till later, but since you are here, I am just preparing myself a bite to eat. Are you hungry?" asked Mother to her daughter.
"Sure. It's been a long day, and I am so glad to be home," said Karen with a sigh. And she was glad to be home, well actually, her mother's home. It was a nice home, and Agnes seemed to enjoy the community of older people that she visited and enjoyed each other socially. Agnes went into the kitchen while Karen went upstairs to the guest room. She changed into something more comfy. She loved wearing sweats. She wasn't always comfortable wearing silks, satins and fancy material all the time…just on special occasions she thought to herself as she lay on the bed for a few minutes before her mother called her downstairs to tell her that supper was ready. From the table, Karen saw some corn, a pork chop, rice and a tossed salad. She realized how famished she was. There was nothing like a good home cooked meal prepared by her Mother.
"Looks good Mom!" said Karen as she sat down opposite her Mother.
"Just talked to Richard today. He wanted to know how you are doing? He was telling me that he would need to know when you got back, so that he could book the studio time for your recording sessions. He'll be heading to England after all your sessions are completed. He'll be there promoting his last album, which has gone quadruple platinum there," said Agnes as she bit into her pork chop.
"Oh, I am so happy for him. He deserves his success. That's amazing that he's done quite well with his solo career. I have to talk to Anna and find out when my tour ends. I hope it's soon. I am getting just tired and want to be home with the kids and Jon. How I miss them!" said Karen wistfully, as her thoughts turned to them, while they ate in silence. Finally, she looked at her mother and saw a faint smile on her Mother's face. What was on her Mother's mind right now?
"What are you smiling about? Is there something that I don't know about that you do?" asked Karen, wondering why her Mother was smiling.
"Karen. I just wanted to tell you now much I love you. I don't know what I would have done if you had died back when you were sick…uh…with anorexia. I just wanted to say how proud I am of you, of your family, of your career. You have grown into a wonderful Mother and I am so privileged to call you my daughter…I…uh…just wanted to tell you these things before it's too late. I know I have been harsh on you, and maybe not very understanding for a lot of your life, but if only you knew how much I wanted to say but couldn't." Karen went over and hugged her mother.
"I love you too mother, and I thank you for telling me how you feel. You are all I have left in the world and I know how much you miss Dad. You know, he's probably watching us right now from up above. I wish I had been a better daughter to you."
"Karen, you have been an excellent daughter. I wouldn't have traded you in for another daughter if my life depended on it. You are my pride and joy…both you and Richard are. I am the luckiest mother in the world to have such talented children as both you and Richard have been. Now, the both of you are blessed with families of your own," said Agnes, whose eyes were definitely getting weepy. They finished their meal making talk about this and that…her day and her Mom's day. They talked and laughed about everyday life occurrences and there was a bond there, that both women sensed.
Karen's heart just seemed to rise in her heart. After all these years, she felt complete. Everything was fine with her mother, her brother, and her family, and also very importantly, with herself. She had sure come such a long way. Who would have thought that she would have emerged from the almost it seemed timid 1970's singer to a more confident 1990's woman who knew what she wanted and was at peace with herself.
While staying at her Mother's condo in New Haven, Karen and Agnes had time to have a heart to heart talk. Karen had just come in around 6:30 p.m. from a demanding day, and was exhausted. She had been up for the past 13 hours and all she wanted to do was hit the sack and zonk out. Karen walked in the house, and her Mother, upon hearing someone enter the house, came to the hallway.
"Oh. It's you. I didn't expect you till later, but since you are here, I am just preparing myself a bite to eat. Are you hungry?" asked Mother to her daughter.
"Sure. It's been a long day, and I am so glad to be home," said Karen with a sigh. And she was glad to be home, well actually, her mother's home. It was a nice home, and Agnes seemed to enjoy the community of older people that she visited and enjoyed each other socially. Agnes went into the kitchen while Karen went upstairs to the guest room. She changed into something more comfy. She loved wearing sweats. She wasn't always comfortable wearing silks, satins and fancy material all the time…just on special occasions she thought to herself as she lay on the bed for a few minutes before her mother called her downstairs to tell her that supper was ready. From the table, Karen saw some corn, a pork chop, rice and a tossed salad. She realized how famished she was. There was nothing like a good home cooked meal prepared by her Mother.
"Looks good Mom!" said Karen as she sat down opposite her Mother.
"Just talked to Richard today. He wanted to know how you are doing? He was telling me that he would need to know when you got back, so that he could book the studio time for your recording sessions. He'll be heading to England after all your sessions are completed. He'll be there promoting his last album, which has gone quadruple platinum there," said Agnes as she bit into her pork chop.
"Oh, I am so happy for him. He deserves his success. That's amazing that he's done quite well with his solo career. I have to talk to Anna and find out when my tour ends. I hope it's soon. I am getting just tired and want to be home with the kids and Jon. How I miss them!" said Karen wistfully, as her thoughts turned to them, while they ate in silence. Finally, she looked at her mother and saw a faint smile on her Mother's face. What was on her Mother's mind right now?
"What are you smiling about? Is there something that I don't know about that you do?" asked Karen, wondering why her Mother was smiling.
"Karen. I just wanted to tell you now much I love you. I don't know what I would have done if you had died back when you were sick…uh…with anorexia. I just wanted to say how proud I am of you, of your family, of your career. You have grown into a wonderful Mother and I am so privileged to call you my daughter…I…uh…just wanted to tell you these things before it's too late. I know I have been harsh on you, and maybe not very understanding for a lot of your life, but if only you knew how much I wanted to say but couldn't." Karen went over and hugged her mother.
"I love you too mother, and I thank you for telling me how you feel. You are all I have left in the world and I know how much you miss Dad. You know, he's probably watching us right now from up above. I wish I had been a better daughter to you."
"Karen, you have been an excellent daughter. I wouldn't have traded you in for another daughter if my life depended on it. You are my pride and joy…both you and Richard are. I am the luckiest mother in the world to have such talented children as both you and Richard have been. Now, the both of you are blessed with families of your own," said Agnes, whose eyes were definitely getting weepy. They finished their meal making talk about this and that…her day and her Mom's day. They talked and laughed about everyday life occurrences and there was a bond there, that both women sensed.
Karen's heart just seemed to rise in her heart. After all these years, she felt complete. Everything was fine with her mother, her brother, and her family, and also very importantly, with herself. She had sure come such a long way. Who would have thought that she would have emerged from the almost it seemed timid 1970's singer to a more confident 1990's woman who knew what she wanted and was at peace with herself.
