Like mother, like daughter......

There have been a few times in my life when I've realized certain motherly traits entering my world. And by motherly traits I mean Valerie Ingoldsby traits. One of the first was when I started carrying a purse. Everywhere. Always had to have my purse with me. Suddenly I realized that while many women carry purses not ALL women carry purses...but my mom did/does...everywhere. Nature/Nurture were both out to get me on the purse issue. Another was when I started "meeting friends for lunch." I took that as a sign of adulthood as well. Then when I first moved into an apartment I realized I COULD NOT go to bed with a dirty sink. How could my roommates sleep with such a loud mess? Whether my mom always cleaned up the sink at night or kept it clean throughout the day I may never know. But what I do know is I physically couldn't sleep with the sink a mess (this may or may not be a habit I've kept well.) And most recently, and perhaps the most unexpected of all, I baked (yes Cass and Ames it's true!). And I baked A LOT. Dozens of festive cookies. For anyone who knows my mom, it doesn't get much more Valerie than that.
As kids mom would start baking Christmas cookies in October or November to prepare for her famous Christmas party. While recently reading one of my dad's journals he said that one year she made at least 80 different kinds of treats for that years party. The party/open house was quite the event. It seemed the whole world was invited. As kids Marie and I were in charge of taking people's coats when they arrived and retreaving them when guests were ready to leave. One year we donned Santa outfits to many guests delight. Another year a sweet (aka crazy) neighbor told my parents she had seen me smoking in my bedroom. Had she only seen the real steam emitting culprit....a humidifier by my side to help my asthma ridden 10 year old body! (As a side-note our house was only 1300 square feet...I'm pretty sure smoking in a bedroom with a house full of people would have been a bad idea.) Such good memories. Friends came from all over, visited, ate, and often took a plate home of goodies because the goodness was overwhelming. The party was a tradition for years until it turned into a source of competition in our small hometown with strangers stopping us on the street or at the grocery story and asking what they had to do to get an invite.
While my cookie extravaganza wasn't such a huge deal I must admit I enjoyed it. C and I took some treats around and I felt very festive...and very much like my mom. Thanks mamacita!