A small green book caught my eye at the bookstore. Do books call to you as well? I usually wander and wait for one or two to speak—sometimes they literally fall off the shelf in front of me to get my attention. Those are the best books.
Kelly’s book, Lift, quietly invited me to pick it up and I knew on the first page I wouldn’t set it down until I’d finished. Kelly is a photographer, writer, breast cancer survivor, wife to Edward, a unique friend, and mom extraordinaire to Georgia and Claire. This book is a letter to her girls and it can make you snort milk through your nose if you happen to be in the habit of reading and eating cereal. It’ll wrench your heart seconds after you laughed out loud and linger with you, like a warm hug, long after you close the back cover.
This tug-of-war often obscures what’s also happening between us. I am your mother, the first mile of your road. Me and all my obvious and hidden limitations. That means that in addition to possibly wrecking you, I have the chance to give to you what was given to me: a decent childhood, more good memories than bad, some values, a sense of a tribe, a run at happiness. You can’t imagine how seriously I take that—even as I fail you. Mothering you is the first thing of consequence that I have ever done.
Discovering Kelly led me to her blog and I’ve ordered her previous book, The Middle Place. And by the way if you happen to know Meg’s baby’s name, please share and complete my day.
Laura, did you ever think of writing the liner notes on books? I only subscribe to 2 blogs (I’m a rookie, what can I say?) and yours and Stacy’s are the 2 simply for the writing that resonates to my soul. BTW, I have a whole stack of books waiting to be read based on what you wrote about them in the AU Portal. Thank you for this one. I will add to my Amazon wish list because my new pledge is to read a book before I buy another one. Hi, my name is Robyn, and I’m a book addict 🙂 Hugs!