Waiting For Mum

By forest_for_ever

Sun, 13 Feb 2022
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3 comments
 

Waiting For Mum

 

Some images or events seem to stick in the memory and even nearly sixty years of a life cram packed with too many to recall there are some that stubbornly remain. 

Our family lived not far from the Chelmsford’s town centre (now redefined as a city by her Majesty) and looking back my childhood in the 1960s was far from traumatic even though I retain some things I would really rather forget.  Like many looking back the sun always seemed to shine and summers went on forever, or so it seemed.

My mum used to work as a cleaner in nearby Great Baddow where I was actually born.  We moved to Chelmsford about three miles away in 1960.  There was no car for us and buses where the transport of choice.  I would always walk to town and wait outside the Odeon Cinema for mum to return from work.  I seem to remember quite a few bus routes passed between the two points and she could catch any one of them.  I would wait patiently as each bus disgorged it’s passengers.  The rise of anticipation as one by one the buses came and went.  Every arriving bus would bring my mum and each departed again having failed to deliver. 

Finally, tired of false hope the last bus of a bunch would bring her to me.  Why I remember this I do not know.  There was no big treat in store, no reason other than seeing my mum and walking home with her. I suppose it was a reaffirmation of our relationship and the much-needed comfort of knowing she was always there.

On the 21st of August 1997 she made her last journey.  I know in my heart heaven was waiting her arrival as eagerly as I did all those years before.

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Comments

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

I love your phrase 'far from traumatic!' It's as if trauma is shown on a signpost and it's many miles away. The trauma of WW2 perhaps, Forest.

I am 65 and I think you may be a couple of years older. The memories of WW2 were traumatic for everyone and no-one was supposed to dwell on them. We had peace now, what more did we want?

Waiting for Mum is pure English sunshine, mild and real.

Submitted by forest_for_ever on

I am actually 66 and will be 67 in July.  I was not aware of the fragile state of the world in those days. For instance the Cuban Missile crisis passed me by.  I was too wrapped up in growing up and trying to enjoy an innocent childhood.  My father was given to the odd bit of dom.   aestic violence when he was drunk.  I think that was one of the reasons to cling so close to mum.  

I often used to tell my students in school how much they have to cope with.  I think mum shielded me from a great deal and I will always be grateful to her.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

A good memory of a satisfying and comfortable arrival and family bond.

Yes, our parents found it difficult to talk to our generation of the turmoils of their war years. My father resented films that seemed to make light of those years, but he still couldn't share much. But I later read  a letter he'd written to my mother 'on the way home' telling her how his years abroad had been..

Rhiannon