The Tie That Binds - Blessed Be!

The Tie That Binds

The dust motes floated in the sunlight that shone through the south dining room window as the winter afternoon wore on.  I couldn't wait for the older kids to come home from school that day and frankly Mom couldn't either.  I was irritating her with questions, looking for things to do, and just biding time until my three older siblings would arrive home, courtesy of our Uncle Duane Green.  I was 5 years old and at that time, kindergarten was a short summer program taught by the first grade teacher prior to first grade.  So I spent my 5 year old kindergarten year at home with my Mom as my teacher.  She was a really good one.  We enjoyed that pre-school year together but I'm not sure who enjoyed it more.

Back to School
When fall arrived the older siblings went off to school while Dad, Grandpa Green, Uncle Ralph and the farm helpers finished the harvest and field work.  Mom and I hung out together on the farm.  Naturally, I was disappointed that I couldn't go to school too, but Mom promised me we'd have fun.  I remember our laundry days, our grocery shopping outings, and the house cleaning that kept us busy.  But there were a few days that stood out and we really did have fun that year.

Our Harvest Adventure
Mom was a really amazing truck driver who loved to help with harvest and I got to ride along in her potato and sugar beet trucks for many many loads.  She followed directions, could match the speed of the harvester perfectly, could keep the moving truck in the exact right spot to get a perfect load, and back the truck into the long dark potato bin each and every time.  She was charming, fun, looked cute in her jeans and wore pretty lipstick.  She was really determined to contribute to a safe, efficient and effective harvest.  She was driven, smart, and had a sense of purpose.  She was a bit competitive and would try to gain on the other truck drivers by being accurate and consistent, while staying safe.  I loved riding in her truck.

Stan's Cafe
I remember a day when we had to go shopping in Grafton, ND about 15 miles away.  I don't recall what we were shopping for, but I remember when we finished it was near lunchtime and we were still in Grafton.  Mom suggested we should go to lunch.  I was amazed and delighted with the prospect because eating out at a restaurant, alone with my Mom, with none of the big kids in attendance was unheard of.  She said it would be our secret and I couldn't believe my luck.  I was practically holding my breath with excitement as we walked into Stan's Cafe.  The smells were amazing and it was full of people, many who knew Mom and made comments about her little lunch date.  Mom was very pretty and even then I could see the way people looked at her.  She charmed them without trying because she was very attractive and I imagined us to be quite a team of cuties. To those who asked, she smiled and explained we were just girlfriends having lunch together.  I was beaming.  We sat down in our booth and I didn't have a clue what to order.  Previously when Mom and Dad would take us all out to restaurants, I'd ask my Dad what I could order.  Dad would always say, "Anything you want, honey."  I wondered if those rules applied to "a lunch date with girlfriends."  I asked my Mom what I should order and she suggested the hot roast beef sandwich.  She knew I loved mashed potatoes with gravy, and roast beef was familiar and delicious.  I had never had a "hot roast beef sandwich" but I took her advice.  It was delicious!  It was fabulous!  My first ever girlfriend lunch with my mom (or anyone!) was incredible.  I felt like a princess.

Riding Flicka
Another shopping trip brought us back to Grafton's main street and I really wanted to ride the little horse carousel at Earl's Shoe Store.  The mini carousel was a kid ride of four horses that went in a tight circle and it was quite a thrill.  We didn't need to buy shoes that day, but I wanted to ride the horses anyway.  I asked and Mom clearly stated that the horse ride was for paying customers.  I didn't understand because I saw other kids enjoying the ride.  Mom explained that Earl, of Earl's Shoe Store, had the horses there for his customers and when we were customers we could ride.  At that point I could hardly wait until we would need Easter shoes, but Mom taught me we needed to wait. My favorite horse in the little carousel was named Flicka, and Flicka would just have to wait.

Singing at the Top of our Lungs
When Christmas time rolled around, I was Mom's shopping girlfriend and sidekick.  She had a lot of Christmas shopping to do so we made many trips to Grafton.  I believe I was properly distracted by wise sales clerks when certain items would get checked out and bagged. Other times I was sworn to secrecy. I remember one cold winter day riding home around the Auburn curve singing "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style...in the air there's a feeling of Christmas.  Children laughing, people passing....."at the top of our lungs.  Mom knew all the words and we sounded SO good in the car.  We laughed and sang along with the radio to the next songs too.  We were girlfriends on a shopping trip and my Mom was the best "girlfriend" ever!

Robin's Four Eggs
One spring morning she explained to me that a robin was a bird with a red tummy also known as a red breast.  She explained that robins were one of the first birds we'd see in the spring on the farm as they migrated back to build their nests and raise their families.  Mom said that I should look for one.  She even said if I saw the first robin of the spring, I'd get a Snickers mini candy bar!  That got me thoroughly engaged in the lesson.  She went on to say robin's eggs were a beautiful blue and the lucky momma birds often laid four eggs in the nest, although some moms only got three.  Being the fourth child in our family of four kids, this was very exciting news for me and I considered my mother one of the lucky ones who got four babies as I smugly enjoyed that part of the lesson.  She observed my satisfied grin and added a hug at that point in this excellent science lesson.  Eventually I got so focused on finding this spring robin that I parked myself at the back porch window on a stool and waited and stared.  It was still cool outside and Mom was finishing housework.  I waited, I watched, and finally I spotted a bright red breasted robin!  I screamed with joy and Mom came running, just in time to see it by the tree, hopping along in search of food in the back yard.  She gave me a big warm hug and a smile of enormous approval.  She congratulated me on my persistence and went to retrieve the Snickers candy bar.  Victory is so sweet.

Renae's Bike
My Mom loved her family and especially her sister Lorraine in Drayton.  If the work was done or when we were finished at the laundromat, we would get to go have "coffee" with Lorraine.  Lorraine would make coffee, whip up a delicious cake, sweet bread, or cookies to go along with the coffee and visit with Mom and me.  Lorraine's youngest daughter Becky would play with me a little, but I was 5 and she was 2, so sometimes she'd need a nap while we visited.  If that was the case, I'd get to try to ride my older cousin Renae's little blue bicycle on the driveway while Mom and Lorraine visited some more.  I remember wondering if it was ok for me to be out there on the driveway by myself, but they were listening and watching me as they visited.  I think they knew when I fell into Aunt Lorraine's pretty bee filled gladiolas, and honestly it happened more than once.  I persisted and it was on Renae's little bike, while she was at school, with the bees in the hollyhocks, that I learned to ride a bike.  I'm sure Mom, Aunt Lorraine and little Becky were impressed.

Blessed Be the Tie that Binds
And then came the day that I was particularly impatient waiting for Laurie, Rob, and Pam to come home from school.  The sun shone in on the dust motes and I waited impatiently for the big kids. Mom had done all that she could to keep me entertained.  Finally, in what I remember as slight frustration on her part, she took me to the piano for a lesson.  She told me about one of Grandma Sophie Mattson's favorite hymns and proceeded to teach me to play "Blessed Be the Tie that Binds."  I learned to play it with one finger and played it for the rest of the afternoon. She taught me the words too, because they were important to Grandma Sophie.  We sang it at the top of our lungs and it was our song and is to this day.

Lessons Learned
Maybe she got more done when I was eagerly waiting to spot the robin.  Maybe she had more time with her sister while I was learning to ride my cousin's bike.  Maybe she found a moment of peace while I was practicing our song on the piano.  But I know I learned patience, respect, and love of my Lord by and through her example.

Blessings
Last night at Bible Study Fellowship we sang Blessed Be the Tie That Binds.  Naturally I thought of Mom, Grandma Sophie, Aunt Lorraine, Cousins Becky and Renae, Laurie, Robert, Pam, Dad, Uncle Ralph, Grandpa and Grandma Green, all the other cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who share my faith. I shed a tear while singing along and then a smile of pure joy.  Thanks Mom, you were a great teacher, wonderful girlfriend, and super Mom.