Many of you know that my mom’s name was Katherine (hence this blog name, Katherine’s Daughter), and that she passed last January 2022. Lots of things have been going through my mind about her. Times spent together, her last couple of years, and the pearls of wisdom she bestowed upon me and many others. I want to share some of the latter.
There were those aesthetic things. She’d never wear pumps without hose (even knee highs were better than nothing). Her clothes were always pressed, and she loved a bit of perfume on herself. Mom didn’t have many outfits but the ones she had were always nice.
She never wanted to wear old, frumpy types of shoes or boots. In my teens, I remember she had a very stylish type of black boot, with fur around the ankle. They had a kitten heel and I don’t know how she even walked in them in the snow. As she aged, she loved a simple pair of white Keds for shopping, and a pair of black, black patent Clarks loafers for dressy occasions.
Mom went to Vegas a couple of times with my dad (on business) and I still have a pair of clip on, bling hoops that she came back with. She wore them many times to dances and even though they’re not my style, I love having them in my jewelry box. As she aged, she preferred simple jewelry- a pair of pearl earrings, her gold cross on Sundays, and the seasonal pins I loved to buy for her.
As for the pearls of wisdom, mom had many. She believed that if you made a wrong turn, you were meant to go that way and you should just keep going. Also, if you waited long enough, most problems would be solved, usually by God.
She had an unwavering faith and loved everything about our church. The people, the music, the Greek Orthodox Liturgy. She knew the hymns inside out and though she couldn’t hear a word the priest was saying for the last years of her life, we always sat under the choir loft where she could sing quietly to herself.
Special hymns at certain times of the years would bring back memories. Sometimes she’d cry over them because they reminded her of her childhood. It was very touching.
For baking and cooking, mom never used margarine, always Land O Lakes butter. And always Mazola oil or Wesson, not extra virgin olive oil (that I use and love). She touted fresh ingredients and almost always cooked from scratch every night. Growing up, we never ate a TV dinner or a pot pie. She loved to cook and went through a period when she stopped at the grocery store every day, just so she could prepare whatever she was hungry for.
In baking, she bought fresh staples whenever she’d make Greek cookies. Baking soda, baking powder especially, because she knew from experience that older boxes of these things could really turn a recipe wonky.
I think most of all, mom taught me to be a class act. This meant modesty in clothing and jewelry. It was presenting myself with poise and self respect. Standing up straight and having a smile on my face. Being kind and helpful. It meant never letting myself publicly engage in swearing, mean behavior, or acts unbecoming to a lady.
More and more, I realize I was really blessed and lucky to have had her for all the years that I did. Thank you Mom.
