Narrative  12

Successful fishing!

I remember as a teenager, one dinner time, my mother, all kindness, did a gentle caress on my back while I gulped down my meal. What a surprising expression of fondness from mom who usually was very distant and cold in all gestures of affection …

But later what a surprise when right in the middle of a course a student sitting behind me loudly discovered… an April fool that Mom had stuck on my back!

I felt quite embarrassed and somewhat humiliated in front of the entire class.

I remember the smile and laughter she had when I confronted her, telling her that I guessed she was the one responsible for this public humiliation.

Of course, I forgave her in a split second my mother being as charming as mischievous…

Narrative 9

The marriage of M. with L.
I remember the wedding of M. and L. when I was a teenager. I was told that I served Mass during the marriage, but I don’t remember at all. In fact, what I remember is a very traumatic time after the wedding, right before the banquet...

Just before the guests came down to the reception hall in the basement of the church, my sister and I were already there alone, expecting Mom to join us shortly.

Instead a relative of L. arrived and suddenly was very aggressive towards us shouting and screaming. For no reason at all! I still remember the intense fear that gripped me all over my body. (Thirty years later my sister and I still have shivers when we look back ...) We then went outside trembling from head to toes.

When Mom arrived we watched her go into the reception hall alone to face the weirdo. I was fearful for her. But in my heart I knew Mom would save and protect us...

I'd never been aware until now of all the self-assuredness I saw in Mom. Because I knew deep down that she would never be afraid to stand up for me no matter what. She gave me a great proof of her love then. Which I never realized...