and my Mother told me ....
March 25, 2010 
This is anyone's mother, aunt, friend, crone, story-teller, tear wiper and hand-holder. She is the old mother who knows better, she is all of history as she passes down wisdom hand to hand, mouth to ear, quietly and loudly with both tears and laughter. It is her hands you recognize as you gently use the edge of your thumb to swipe a tear away from a loved ones face, her hands that hold the paring knife a certain way as you pluck the green crowns off fresh strawberries readying them for jam , it is her hands the way you hold the needles as you clickety clackety knit one, pearl one endlessly adding stitches to the fabric of your life.
We know what I'm talking about. Mother exists for all of us and we are Mother to those around us. It is our nature. It is nature. But with all the wisdom there has to be a bit of silliness as well, don't you think?
I was engaged in a facebook thread where Smith Kaich Jones, giving credit where credit is due, wrote that she was wishing on cardinals. I had never heard of that but it was also the same week where I found out that you can be pinched for not wearing green on a certain Irish holiday (with a name like Kathleen you'd think I would know about the pinching on the Irish holiday, sheesh). Someone posted on the thread that her mother said, "luck, luck, luck" when she saw a single crow to drive away bad luck. I had never heard that either. My sister says, "puh, puh, puh" to keep bad things at bay.
I phoned said sister to ask if there were any old wive's tales we believed in. I do have my own brain but sometimes I like to borrow hers when I'm stumped. I mentioned that sitting on the cold cement will give you piles, she said, "No, that's not an old wive's tale, that's true!" We went back and forth and I quickly realized that there's a difference between old wive's tales and superstitions although they are often lumped together. It seems that old wive's tales are likely old mid-wive's tales as they mostly relate to pregnancy and child birth. Put a knife under the mattress to cut labour pains. That heartburn that mom to be is suffering is that hairy baby she's carrying. So it seemed that I wasn't thinking about old wive's tales at all, I was thinking about superstitions.
The fabulous thing about writing here is that you can start going one direction, circle around a bit, make a phone call, have a few laughs and then go this way and discover that your post has now taken a turn but you carry on because this is much more fun that the original idea! This post started out so seriously and as it turns out, I'm not feeling so serious after all.
Superstitions, those we got!
We both lift our feet in the car when we cross railroad tracks and hold our breath when we drive by cemeteries. We tug our earlobes when we hear an ambulance and I wish on the first star. Salt is pitched over shoulders, dropped forks and combs are meaningful as are those itchy palms, feet and noses. Cats, ladders, numbers and sidewalk cracks, there are innumerable things to which we attach meaning. We gather a few in childhood and add to them over the years, they become ingrained and natural. They become part of our nature.
What are your superstitions? I bet you recognize some of ours, I would love to hear yours!
And on that note, I shall now say, "puh puh puh" to wish you good luck for the day.
xo
{I wrote this post a few days ago, when I read Ginnie's post from yesterday I got so excited, apparently I had written the "other leg" to her post ... synchronicity rocks!}
Reader Comments (18)
You absolutely kill me, Kath!! Loved this post. Sidewalk cracks - step on a crack, break your father's back...I stepped on a lot of cracks! On purpose!! Now what does that say about me?? Oh, and Kath...puh, puh, puh!
I am so LOL (laughing out loud), Kath, because I had never thought about how superstitions really ARE like idioms...in that they are different in every culture/language and fun to list. And right now I can't think of one you haven't already mentioned! I'll have to find out from Astrid if she has ones here in Holland I've never heard about.
I love the silhouette of the old crone...the sage...she who bleeds no more. She who is within all of us women. "Women Who Run with the Wolves" comes to mind right now. I love how you started down one path and so seamlessly switched to another. It's your prerogative, of course, but it made me smile. If we all got together and started yippety-yappeting, I wonder where we'd start and then end up. Yes, synchronicity at work. I love it!
Oh...you're making me laugh..thinking of all of the things we do and carry with us in life 'because..'just because'. Little superstitions and sayings that stay with us. Love this..and the image of the 'universal mother' spirit is absolutely perfect!!!
first of all . love the photo kath! i really had to smile at your post and I guess I am not superstitious I cannot think of one
.. but I better be off to eat my "apple a day" & " knock on wood!"
Great V@V. You really get it. You were b orn on the thirteenth day of
the month. No superstitions, just a beautiful little girl. Dorothy
I come from pretty practical stock, I guess. I remember the funny childhood ones being learned from friends but I can't think of any superstitions that were handed down to me from my parents. But I did marry into a family that has at one which I bumped heads with a lot. Mentioning the possibility of something negative happening might make it come true, you know. So, hoping it won't rain on your wedding day? Don't say that! Or, mentioning you feel a cold coming on? Don't say that! Maybe you worry that interest rates will go up? Don't say that! I sure have learned to tailor my language for the audience!
Well, I am still wishing on cardinals, and waiting for the Easter Bunny to surprise me. In addition to leaving eggs to find, he always hid our baskets outside somewhere, in the flowers, behind a tree, sitting on a swing. I always thought it was better than Christmas because you never knew where your basket of goodies might be. A treasure hunt. It was only after I grew up that I found out he didn't do that for everyone. :)
And I love that picture!
You had me thinking about it all day, and then I thought of this: My Spanish friend regularly accompanies me when walking the dog, and every now and then you see the dog eating grass. I would say: he's got stomach problems, my Spanish friend says: he's got a headache. So who is right? I don't know.
and ofcourse: no dinner if there are 13 people. Get the neighbor or phone a friend to come over
Wonderful post, Kath and it has me thinking....is it superstitious to check that the coffee pot is off...three times?
Oh my gosh - what fun for a second day in a row! Yes indeed Kath you are truly the "other leg" in this case and I absolutely love the connections being formed and shared in this space, just by being yourselves. The willingness and ability to allow your Truth to flow from your hearts, in whatever form, to the computer page is a gift for us all. Thanks for making me laugh and cry, to feel that which was forgotten and remember that which is yet to be. Thank you women of V&V and a very special, superstition free thanks to you Kath for doing it all once again!
peace to you ...
Love that photo, and loved the way you went from serious to light...my mom has all these funny superstitions and sayings and wive's tales as well. I do knock on wood. I only pick up a penny if it is face up. There was a penny on my living floor for a couple of weeks once!
But I like the number thirteen. I always have good luck on Friday the thirteenth. I used to not step on cracks, now I just don't step on worms.
Breathtaking image.
Superstitions? I grew up hearing every single one you listed under "those we got". As a kid I was a sidewalk crack jumper. Now, in my older age, I laugh in the face of every single one.
Loved your turn around.
I'm so superstitious I do all those things too. I feel and see things too and sometimes that is no fun but I always relay on my intuition when doing things.
hi kath, happy sunday. i read the first paragraph of your post and instantly thought of one thing - there is a quote in one of my favourite books - i will find it for you and send it; clarissa pinkola estes, women who run with the wolves.
Once a mother, always a mother. I went to college late in life, and before I knew it, I was everyone's mother...encouraging, helping, advising and caring. When I am in a store and I hear someone call, "Mom", my head goes up automatically. So be it. I'm proud to be a mother. Farmergal
Drop a spoon...company soon!
:)
Beautiful image.
hello sister! it's funny how i can cruise through the posts and immediately recognize your (and Margie's too for that matter:) style. i LOVE that about us!! this one started out a little serious and i (still recognized it) i thought; "whoa this girl haas somethin' important she wants to talk about.." and you did :) always and forever taking life on life's terms, balancing with wit and humor while capturing the meaningful whole.
i believe in lucky charms.
thanks for always watchin' for me on my blog. i feel so loved by you girls.
muwa