Moms

     When I (hopefully you as well to make this more relatable) think of my mom, I don't see her as a young fit spritely teenager like myself (lol) I never think of her and her numerous relationships and days out with her friends at the mall.  My mom grew up literally blocks away from the beach in Laguna.  If any of you know the area well, her house was across from the high school.  Lately she has been e-mailing an old friend from school and has been feeling quite nostalgic.  This friend of hers keeps saying things like, "I remember when we would blast Jimi Hendrix's song Fire (the long version not the short one) and dance around your room."  As my mother explains this to me this is when she turns and says, "I was allot like you."  And as much as I don't' want to admit it, she's right.  As me and my friends blast songs from my laptop in my upstairs den and having full on jam sessions to Spice Girls, Bob Marley, and so much more so were they.  We dance around like fools just like she did and we embarrass ourselves in front of my brother just as they did, and we go down to the beach in our little bikinis just as they did tanning oil in had and get ready for dances, 9 of us crammed in one bathroom, just as they did.  We cry together and laugh together and experience drugs, sex, and alcohol just as they did.  The list goes on and on.  But, the point is I have never seen her the way she sees me.  But, now I realize I can in all of the actions I do, I can think that despite the fact it was 45 years ago we did the exact same things, I can see her in what she says is her "prime".  I also think of how, in many many years my children (and I will be the last to have them amongst my friends, I have bet money on it in our pregnancy pact) they for a long time will not see me as teenager, will only see me as their very own middle aged mother.  But, then as I allow them that little entrance through the eye of the needle into my past, they too will see all of the fun I had.  This cycle will forever continue.  The younger, not understanding until the older guides them to it.  I am so glad my mother gave me this insight it really makes me appreciate her more.

How much do you know about your parents past?
Would knowing more help you to better understand them?