I’ve known my mother forever,
her blue eyes loved me before I even knew who I was.
Is that why I married a man with blue eyes?
Mom and I have had a gazillion phone conversations
some stretching into an hour or two
after all, as she describes herself, “I’m chatterbox Gladys,”
and I’m chatterbox Gladys’s daughter.
The past decade she finished every call with, Enjoy yourself!
always followed by the song:
“Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think.
Enjoy yourself while you’re still in the pink...” *
Though she only knew the words of the chorus
she’d sing it without fail at the end of every call
even when leaving a message,
so this morning’s conversation:
“I haven’t been too well
god bless you
thank you for phoning…”
felt like I was talking to a stranger.
I know she’s on strong pain pills that make her sleepy
but I’m still holding the receiver waiting for the rest.
by Rosanne Freed
* The song “Enjoy Yourself”was very popular in the 1940’s. Here’s Louis Prima’s version
Wondering Rose 
Ah, Rosie, I’m so sorry you are having to go through this time of concern and change. I will pray for your mom. You know, this is the first time I really heard all the words to that song. Amazingly wise… your mom knew.
Oh dear…did I mean to call you Rosie? It is only out of endearment.
I love it souldipper because it means that you’re feeling closer than just a blogging friend 🙂
Thank you for writing souldipper. It helps to know that I have so much support.
I also didn’t know the words to the song until I wrote the post today. In fact I didn’t even know who sang it.
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians sing the most popular version, but this one is closer to how Mom sings it.
Does your Mom have a CD or tape player in her room? She might enjoy listening to the words, instead of singing them herself.
I hope you’re still finding ways to enjoy yourself, too, Rosie.
Oh lord BB of course my mother would love to hear the song. I never thought of it. I’m going to play it to her when we speak on the phone tomorrow and see what she says.
It would be too much to ask her to play a CD herself. She has enough trouble with the phone – forgets to put it down, or puts it down the wrong way – and then wonders why no ones phoned all day.
You’re so thoughtful Charles. Thank you. I hope you too are finding ways to enjoy yourself during your brother’s illness. How is he?
A good lesson to take to heart in the words of that song! I trust your mom has followed her own advice over the years, and my thoughts and prayers and cyber (((hugs))) are with you as you cope with the changes in your mom’s health. Remember the good times!
It makes me feel so “rich” when people out there in the big busy world care enough to comment to a post about my mom’s declining health. Thank you Barbara. I also really appreciate the cyber hugs.
btw my Mom never sang the song when we were kids. She just started singing it on the phone in the past ten years or so. Funny eh?
I’m sorry about your mom’s health problems. Hugs.
Thank you Val. Gosh I can’t tell you how good it feels to know I have the support of blogging friends from all over the world.
Were you able to play the song to Peter Pan?
I hope you are paying heed to her wise quoting of these wise words yourself.
Lots of love.
Oh my goodness you even remembered that she’s Peter Pan! Thank you Priya 🙂
To answer your question, I just phoned Moether (that’s what I call her) and played her the song, but I woke her up so she was very groggy. I think she heard it.
I also played the song for my sister MJ who was visiting my Mom. I can confirm that MJ enjoyed hearing the song. Maybe they’ll both be humming it during lunch…
Oh, hope your mom will recover her high spirits quickly … so hard to read this and miss my mom and wish I could still be worried about her health, or hear the sound of her voice! thinking of you, Rosie!
Betty you’ve shared on our blogs how much you miss your Mom, and I honestly think of you every time I write about my Mother. I wept when I read your words:
“wish I could still be worried about her health, or hear the sound of her voice!”
I send you a “cyber” hug dear friend.
It’s so difficult to live far from an aged parent. I hope when I have enough vacation hours to go see my Mom she’ll still know who I am… I think I’ve made at least one emergency trip to see her every year for at least the past half dozen years. Her fighting Peter Pan spirit pulled her through every time, but this time I don’t hear it in her voice. She’s in too much pain.
How I know that it truly is “later than you think.” My mom died seven months ago today. Everyday is later than I think…
I’m sorry your Mom died so recently. Thank you for writing – I appreciate your words of wisdom.