We weren’t poor when I was a kid, but we didn’t have many luxuries either. The thing is we never gave it much thought, because there was somebody looking out for us who did her best to see we had everything that was within her power to provide. To this day, she doesn’t realize how powerful she was and still is. But we do.
Popcorn and Soda Pop
It was the little things
Though there were big things too
And to this day, she doesn’t take any credit
Doesn’t know maybe
How awesome she was… is
Says she made lots of mistakes
Uh-huh… don’t we all
What she doesn’t realize is
We don’t remember the mistakes
Probably don’t even know about most of them
We just remember how much she loved us
Not because of anything she did
Or the things she bought for us
Things we know she had to sacrifice for
She probably doesn’t realize
We noticed she did without things
Worked extra shifts
At hard and sometimes meaningless jobs
Just so we could have the things we wanted
And she probably doesn’t realize
How much we remember the little things
Like those occasional Saturday nights
A six-pack of Barqs or Nehi
A variety of flavors
So we could all choose one
The lid banging on the big pan
As she slid it back and forth across the burner
The corn popping, sounding like muffled firecrackers
The smell of warm butter
Then all of us sitting on the floor
A bottle of soda pop in one hand
The other hand digging in that big old bowl
Shoulder-to-shoulder
Watching whatever was on the TV
Didn’t matter what it was
We were together… and loved
By the best mom in the world
What more could a kid want
Copyright © 2012 C Mashburn
Sharing this with dVerse Poets Pub on their Open Link Night #74
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Marbles In My Pocket ~ The Official Blog of Charles L. Mashburn ~ Poems, Short Stories, and random thoughts from the author of "Be Still... and know that I am God" 
Susan said
Made me cry…the good kind. 😉
charlesmashburn said
Sometimes… that’s my job.
lenwilliamscarver said
What a tribute to your mom and your childhood.!! Beautiful God Bless:)
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Len! It’s the least I can do.
Pats Devotions said
Hi Charles; Thanks for the memories my friend… Blessings to you and yours this Christmas… Bro Pat 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Same to you, Bro Pat!
Ken said
True Dat Bro! True Dat! I totally remember the six pack to which you refer, red pop , big orange , root beer! And real pop corn with the old pot like you said, no microwave back then. LOL and of course the Best MOM ever ! Cheers Kennny Don
charlesmashburn said
Hey, lil brother! Good to see a comment from you on here! Definitely some good memories. I swear, when I think about it, I can hear that lid clanging and smell the corn poppin!
brian miller said
big smiles man…i remember like jiffy pop and running it over the eye…and def moments in front of the tv with fam…back then it was something special…we only had a few channels so there was not so much temptation to watch every day…..cool nostalgia in this man…
charlesmashburn said
Three channels and the aluminum antenna on the roof. Cable wasn’t even an idea yet.
claudia said
it’s the little things…so true…what a wonderful warm-hearted write charles..your mom sounds like she has a beautiful heart..
charlesmashburn said
She definitely does! Thanks, Claudia!
Daydreamertoo said
Great to have a mother who is a good mother too. Never might not have had much but, she made sure you had everything you needed and a little bit more besides.
Loved this 🙂
charlesmashburn said
She’s the best mother a person could want!
Laurie Kolp said
I will never forget Jiffy popcorn either and now I want some.
charlesmashburn said
This was even before Jiffy Pop, Laurie! Or maybe it was around, but out of our price range. This was pour a little oil in the pan, heat it up, then pour in the kernels. Put the lid on, and shake like crazy so the popped ones wouldn’t stay on the bottom and burn!
wolfsrosebud said
ah, wisdom of a grown child… and the simplicity of thing which make kids happy
charlesmashburn said
Um, I wish I’d known then what I know now?
Thanks!
tashtoo said
Yup…more happy tears from this reader…Charles…you ROCK! Seriously!
charlesmashburn said
Yes’m. Mom called and wanted to know why I made her cry. I told her it’s my job.
Thanks, Tash!
Gay Reiser Cannon said
How touching. A mom couldn’t want anything more than to be remembered this way — warm and fragrant love!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Gay. I try to tell her often how special she was and is.
Tony said
That’s the way a man should talk – and be able to talk – about his mother. I loved the muffled firecrackers too 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Tony. She’s easy to talk about.
Mary said
Your mother knew the important things about family and made sure that you had them. The joy of being together doing the simple things of life is truly what it is all about; and your mother seemed an artist with knowing how to develop family closeness! A warm write.
charlesmashburn said
Yes, she did, Mary! She raised some pretty good kids in a pretty rough situation. We were/are blessed!
ayala said
It is all about the little things. Your mom sounds great…what a lovely poem and memory.
charlesmashburn said
She is great, Ayala! Thanks!
Heaven (@asweetlust) said
How sweet Charles ~ To be loved is the best gift and memory she can give you ~ Worldly stuff comes and go, but the parent’s love and sacrifices will always be remembered ~
charlesmashburn said
I’ll second that! Thank you!
Sherry Mashburn said
She’s still a great mom . . . and the BEST mother-in-law, too!
charlesmashburn said
I agree!
Sabio Lantz said
ahhhh, cute tribute
charlesmashburn said
Thank you!
Ginny Brannan said
And in the end the greatest gift, the greatest memory, is the love we share. This made me cry. What a lovely tribute.
charlesmashburn said
Made you cry? My job here is finished!
Thank you, Ginny!
Felipe Adan Lerma said
those are some great memories charles, well shown, they strike a very familiar chord for me, thanks so much 😉
esp liked,
“all of us sitting on the floor
A bottle of soda pop in one hand
The other hand digging in that big old bowl
Shoulder-to-shoulder
Watching whatever was on the TV…”
yeah, 😉
charlesmashburn said
I’m glad I could share some familiar memories with you, Felipe.
Thank you!
poemsofhateandhope said
so good charles…such heartfelt nostalgia….and love?….is worth more than gold…even more than that….great emotive poem
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Stu. I appreciate the kind words.
ManicDdaily said
Very sweet. Wonderful that you still have her. K.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, k!
rmp said
I can’t think of anything more one could wish for. I never much thought about it, but I can’t point to any mistakes–not with so many much more important things to think on.
charlesmashburn said
I agree! Thank you!
kaykuala said
You’ve said it Charles! A mother’s love knows no bounds so also her sacrifices that we may live a better life! Nicely!
Hank
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Hank!
Kim Nelson said
Beyond wonderful, this. Any mom would be proud, as writer/son seems to be. Lovely.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Kim!