The author, an Oakland County resident, is part of the Baby Boomer generation -- many of whom have amusing tales to tell about their aging parents. She recently posted this about her mother Ruth on Facebook. It's published with permission.
Merrill Lynn Katz Hansen with mother Ruth.
By Merrill Lynn Katz Hansen
Those of you who know her, are aware that she still thinks, talks about me, and talks to me, as if I'm frozen in time for her, at age 10.
She is still troubled that I don't want to wear a headband, and pink glasses with gold speckles, and she's seldom let a month go by when she hasn't reminded me that I've yet to read the Nancy Drew books that she's saved for me.
She makes chicken soup for me every week, calls to see if I have any library books that are overdue (yes, I still go to the library), and she constantly insists that I should wear her wine colored crushed velour pant suit from 1971 because "it's never gone out of style" (she's never noticed that I have been six inches taller than her since birth).
She still thinks that if I don't feel well, I should stick my finger down my throat, or drink salt water, so I throw up ("Mom...IT'S A PINCHED NERVE...THROWING UP WILL NOT MAKE IT FEEL BETTER!!!!!!!). I was once nauseous when I was very young, but refused to drink salt water, so she had my father pretend he was calling the police to take me to jail). and she has saved some of my elementary school reports, because I got a good grade on them. I've asked her not to put them on her refrigerator.
There are days when I just stand there, shaking my head and saying "I can't believe you just said that."
But there's not a day that goes by when I don't know how fortunate I am that my mother is here at 91, reminding me that I am only 10.
