Image: “Fruit Pickers Harvesting Under the Mango Tree,” by Fernando Amorsolo in 1939
Proverb: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
You know I was born in a very different time. My mother would often say, ‘You were very young at the time so I don’t expect you’ll remember much.’
She had a way of understating things.
We shared the news, assassinations, Popes, Prime ministers
She would greet me each morning with the news over night.
We had a wireless, the newspaper and a lot of gossip.
My mum was happy with that.
Our home was safe, cocooned as we were
In a tiny place far enough from Sydney for it to be a vast distance away.
My parents were greatly influential on me.
Education was important, as was a love of sport.
Both qualities I still have today.
My father was a man who worked hard, prayed daily and took us to church each Sunday.
To me as a child he seemed remote. He rarely played with us.
Years later he lightened up, became the most loved grandad,
Attained wisdom, became our greatest support.
My aunt told me much about my mum’s mother.
She died when I was nine. My memories of her are fleeting.
Both my grandmothers were gentle and generous
I’d like to think I have some of those qualities.
I am told I am like my dad, in looks and personality.
I am remote myself, I live alone, as did he after mum died.
Dad was happy to be on his own, he never sought company,
Other than his children, grandchildren and an argumentative neighbour.
In later life he welcomed me as his carer, someone to cook and care for him.
Luckily we lived together well,
He lived a lot of his life through me
Told me about the war, revealed his vulnerabilities at his life’s end.
We are the product of our upbringing; some people have better ones than others
Mine was what it was, in hindsight ignorance is bliss
But education is eye opening.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/writing-prompt-90-proverb-january-18-2015/
Morpethroad 