We walk every morning in our new town.
One of the delights about our neighborhood are the abundant pecan trees,
Which Quinn requests every time we go.
We scour the ground on Tuskeena Street, under the shade of the pecan trees.
We look for the lightest colored shells, they usually give us the sweetest nuts.
We smash them under our shoe. Quinn brings his heel down, shoes flashing green.
The nut rolls, I bring it back to him.
He tries again, it’s almost pulverized. We check to see if it’s a good nut.
My little boy, so young, has already learned about bitterness.
“This looks like a good nut, Mommy.”
It was, plump, sweet, giving.
We stand there, sharing the moment.
I see the early Autumn sun shining on him, his brother. There’s a cool breeze.
I am reminded of these moments with the women in my life.
My memory is of picking black berries with my grandmother,
Watching her tat with strings pulled from grain bags.
Walking out to the field so that she can dig up thistles. She had her own personal vendetta against them.
They were as prickly as she was.
My mom gave me an appreciation of old things, antiques, historic sites, experiences.
We gardened together.
I remember her diligently taking care of me while I was sick.
She showed me what love is.
Imperfectly.
I look at my son’s darkening hair in the sun, his blond locks long cut off.
I have a thought that I am creating a memory for my children. For Quinn.
He, too, will look back on this with fondness.
He, too, will say my mother loved me.
Imperfectly.
