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Sticky Note

For most of her life she wanted a tattoo But was leery her mother might yell, gnaw and chew The unicorn landed! Mom won’t understand it And Mo doesn’t know what to do! Barclay Ann Foubert (nee Nelligan) 1956-2006 Found sticky note (stuck to a second sticky note) Dear Mo, I don’t understand it but I realize you’re a big girl. I don’t have to love what you do but I love you, with or without decoration. Love Mom *** Funny the way memory works. I did not remember this, I only remembered her initial “you do these things to shock me”, that and “what are you going to tell your grandkids about the giraffe with a bump on its head”… which now I know is a quote from Joan Rivers. My mother loved Joan Rivers. And me, as it turns out.

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Jim Slaughter

Date: 7/6/2022 10:57:00 AM

Easy to understand why, Maureen. I rather liked Joan Rivers, too.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 7/9/2022 8:06:00 AM

She is fabulous.

Jeff Connelly

Date: 12/17/2021 9:49:00 AM

I LOVE you too Maureen. Though I have no tattoos, I really love the art form. An expression if be in words or a drawing, it speaks for that person. I never liked the idea of the permanence of a tattoo; so I always wear t-shirts of expression. Before retirement I always wore shirts to work that were provocative or angry or diwn right mean. Now I wear calm funnier ones since I can change shirts; BUT not a tattoo. Listen to the Who's song "Tattoo", it's brilliant, like you Maureen HUGS

John Watt

Date: 12/3/2021 4:33:00 PM

Hi Pidge, thanks for this amazing vignette! My wife and daughter had to navigate through some stormy seas where tattoos (and piercings) were concerned. Fortunately love, grace, and mutual respect overcame all, and they have a beautiful relationship. Thank you for sharing, and for being 100% you. Hugs ~ John

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 12/4/2021 9:50:00 AM

Oh, thank YOU John! Mum was similarly upset by the piercings too, but I think she got over it all. I am warmed by the relationship between your wife and daughter; my mum and I were estranged before she was diagnosed with cancer, I forged one with her at the end. Hugs back! xomo

Anil Deo

Date: 11/23/2021 7:23:00 AM

I am sure the Unicorns are well-entertained. Mom called them "decoration" - kinda true, aint it! (ByTheWay, I may have created a wrong impression with Jan Allison that Mo is missing in action)

Anil Deo

Date: 11/22/2021 11:35:00 AM

Beautiful, Wonderful: the way of deep love. shalom, shalom MO

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 11/23/2021 6:53:00 AM

Thank you dear friend! xomo

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 11/1/2021 12:06:00 PM

this is sweet. Yes, I think our memories can play tricks on us for sure!

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 11/2/2021 7:28:00 AM

Thank you Andrea. I have learned to question my brain. xomo

Jack Ellison

Date: 10/30/2021 9:40:00 AM

You're still the same Mo I knew and loved... still do! Kissie kiss XOX

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 11/2/2021 7:26:00 AM

Hugs you! <3

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 10/25/2021 4:22:00 PM

What a sweet story of you and your mom, sounds like you have a lot of happy memories (do you have a unicorn tattoo? Or any other kind?)

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 10/25/2021 8:07:00 PM

Thank you, had to share, I just found these sticky notes tucked away in an old sketch book, trying to reconnect with myself, a little over achieved. Yup, the unicorn was my 1st, for “no regret”, if you’ve seen “The Last Unicorn”. I have 7, not covered but certainly marked. My fave is my Picasso’s Bull’s Head. xomo!

David Kavanagh

Date: 10/25/2021 12:50:00 PM

Heya super Mo, sounds like the old medulla oblongata is rewiring itself back into the circuit board, this really is a lovely treat, for all your fans on the soup, and a nice tribute to your mother, best wishes keep writing and inspiring, cheers David

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 10/25/2021 8:14:00 PM

Oh neuroplasticity, my dearest friend. I knew I had a limerick of hers somewhere, had hoped to find and post, I had completely forgotten this note, total surprise (giving my hippocampus a run for its money, it’s been having words with those amygdaloids) ;), thank you David! xomo

John Lawless

Date: 10/24/2021 5:13:00 PM

A friend of mine calls it "romantic recall" and it is a good thing to remember.

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 10/25/2021 5:47:00 AM

I like that. One thing the TBI has taught me is to always question how you remember things. For an animal, we humans are so out of touch with our own nature. Thank you John, xomo

Jan Allison

Date: 10/24/2021 5:13:00 PM

what a touching piece Mo, she loved you as her daughter and accepted your individuality with your tattoos, I had to laugh at the kisses being censored lol, i think that would have made your mum smile!:-) hugs Jan xx

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 10/25/2021 5:45:00 AM

I think she would have gotten a kick out of that too. I did inherit my sense of humour from her. Thanks you Lovely! xomo

Rico Leffanta

Date: 10/24/2021 11:31:00 AM

So much is written about love which remains misunderstood. So much is written about censorship, equally misunderstood, but we love you anyway, Mo! XXX

Maureen Mcgreavy
Date: 10/25/2021 5:44:00 AM

Thank you dear! :)))) xomo!

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 10/24/2021 6:36:00 AM

LAUGH OUT LOUD! Poetry Soup has censored my mother’s kissses. BAAAH HA HA! The irony is not lost on me.

Jeff Connelly
Date: 12/17/2021 9:39:00 AM

Oh my goddess Maureen. Your poem didn't involve a french kiss??? I used to break the rules all the time, but I guess no one knew; or in truth no one was reading my stuff. BUT I'd use profanity, yet in a different language; OR, after having the word "arse" ****, I started breaking up lines like: shhh/it. It was loads of fun hahaha.