Edna, you were an incredible mum

I often dream my mum is still here and when I wake, it’s like she has just dropped in for a visit.

WEEKEND MAGAZINE - TUGBOAT TALES:  

THIS is nearly a week late but I thought I would share it with you for a couple of reasons. It's about my Mum who was unique to me but hopefully it will remind you about your mother or the mother of your kids or even grandkids.

I lost Edna back at Christmas 2012 but it doesn't really seem that long ago.

I often dream she is still here and when I awake from that dream, it's like she has just dropped in for a visit, either to pull me into line or look after her little baby (that would be me).

And it leaves me wondering what had just happened, which is kind of cool.

The other reason it doesn't seem that long ago was I had a habit of ringing her on my way home from work - usually at the same spot the on ramp from Alex on to the motorway - and I reckon for the first two years after she passed, I would go to dial her number every couple of days.

So last Sunday I was thinking about Mum and also watching Old Mate interact with our grandkids and I marvelled at what a great mother she has been through some pretty tough times.

I am pretty sure she got her resilience from her mum.

I also marvel at how good a mother my daughter-in-law is to her kids and I thought how blessed I have been.

Four mothers - all different but all very good at the mothering caper.

So why I am a week late with this is because last Sunday I started thinking about Mother's Day and all the food I was forced to eat, prepared by Edna, to celebrate the day which sort of sums up her DNA.

Like a lot of her vintage, she was not happy unless she was feeding you.

So basically, my gift to her was eating everything that was put in front of me.

Yes, she was an excellent cook, only surpassed by her ability to force-feed whoever was visiting at the time.

Actually, she was ahead of her time as she was like an elderly Uber Eats type: delivery was no problem, didn't matter where and certainly didn't matter when.

She would turn up when I worked at Reeds in Ocean St with corn-beef fritters wrapped in alfoil for me and my workmate Noddy.

But no matter who you were with or what you were doing, you had to try one then and there. Or in my case, the 13 I once ate at her place for breakfast.

She kept bringing them out and I kept eating them. The only thing beating my indigestion was a phone call to Old Mate after I left to tell her I was a pig.

Uber Edna also delivered to Doctor Ryan, her wonderful GP.

He would get scones, jam and cream when she had an appointment.

And when I would ask her about a particular ailment she had and whether she told the doc, she would say, "I told him but he wasn't listening. He was too busy opening up the scones".

Mum, I miss you. I was lucky to have you and I hope everyone that reads this column has some great memories about theirs.

Here's a quote that sums up the three mums in my life: "Mothers are the only ones that think nothing is beyond their control when it comes to their children." - Ali Fazel.

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