Eating your Donut before you eat your French Fries

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Today’s Blog Post

Eating your Donut before you eat your French Fries

The weather in our area has been not so good with snow, ice and cold weather. To compensate for this, over the past week, in the afternoon, I have been sitting with my Mom in the Mall for most of the afternoon. We are usually in the Food Court and enjoying a coffee plus a treat. Yesterday it we nibbled at French Fries and a Donut at least my Mom did. It was a celebration day.

I take some of my art work along and material to read during the stay at the Mall.

My mom comes with me. In fact the trip to the Mall is primarily for Mom. She needs to walk and needs also the stimulation of being with and around other people.

Now eating French Fries and the wonderful Tim Horton donuts doesn’t sound like the healthiest diet in the world does it!? Well along with her black coffee and whatever treat she gets herself – SHE LOVES IT! And I nibble on some of it… (holding back just a little on the Fries and no Donut for me!)

As I was reading my book I looked up to see Mom eating her goodies she had picked up. She first ate the Donut and then ate the French Fries… which seemed a bit odd to me at that moment. Usually we eat the main dish first and the dessert afterward.

I sat for a long time thinking about this simple action my Mom was doing and came up with a simple thought… “At 91 does it really matter what she does? At 91 does it really matter if she eats McDonald’s French Fries and Tim Hortons’ donuts – every day of the week?”

The simple answer is “Nope – not at all!” At 91 I think you have earned the right to eat what you want and when you want it.

Yesterday at the Mall was her last day of the 91st year. This morning is the start of her 92nd. It is her 91st Birthday today. She has completed 33,215 days on this earth and she loves her French Fries and if she can get gravy with it – she will.

The other thing she likes to do is sit and watch other people. And the Food Court in any Mall is the best place for that to happen. On top of that people that know us will drop by for a visit or greeting.

This sitting at the Mall is good for me too. I can now see my Mom better. She is much slower now, stooped over somewhat and doesn’t walk as fast as before. She is still interested in people and loves to shop. Often she comes back to the table with something new.

Shouldn’t I be more responsible for what my Mom does or doesn’t do? I suppose I should be with the role reversal that has taken place – where I am the care giver and she is the one that needs much more care each year. Hmmm?

When she brought all of her four kids into this world she helped us, cared for us and made sure we were safe. She was our Mom and that is what Moms do best. I can only imagine that we made her smile from time to time as we ate our food in funny ways and did odd things that kids do from time to time. She laughed about it and enjoyed her time with us.

My world has been a hurried one with life passing me by at the speed of light. For over 40 years I supplied myself to thousands of people that needed help. I was a man in a rush to get it all done. I had little time for anything but what other people needed. That is gone now and I think that I have slowed down considerably.

Now sitting and watching my Mom eat her French Fries after her Donut… is okay with me. I can smile and relax. What does it matter what is first or second at this stage of life.

(BTW – I think there was a good reason for eating the Fries second – they were very hot to start off with!)

As I have aged more each year, separated myself from some of the demands that I have had on me and rid myself of the so very important things that I once thought about myself (– you know “I can solve the whole world’s problems in the next two hours!”) – I can sit and watch people too. I can be in no hurry at all if I choose to do so – or if it just feels good.

It will be 22 more years and four months before I will be sitting in a Mall with someone 22 years younger than me… and maybe then I will eat my Donut before my French Fries too.

Happy Birthday Mom!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/ 

Photos taken at the Party - January 28, 2012