It's all in the wings
This past week the temps have been rising and summer is upon us. With the weather temps bouncing back and forth, some people get sick. One of those was my daughter, Emily. Friday afternoon, she called and said she felt awful and had the worst headache she’d ever had. She was scheduled to work but thought she should stop by Walgreens and get a COVID test – it came back positive.
My daughter rarely calls when sick but felt awful and called me around noon while I was talking with one of our new correspondents, Morgan Lester.
This weekend was full of events that I had scheduled to cover, and Morgan was nice enough to go to the events while I headed back to Alabama to take care of my daughter.
Morgan is from Holly Springs and is a graduate of Holly Springs High School. She is a 2022 graduate of Belhaven University, in Jackson, with a double major in Creative Writing and Public Relations. She is the daughter of Eric and Joan Lester.
I asked Morgan I would like to introduce her to our readers and to be a special guest columnist this week. I know everyone will enjoy what she has to share this week.
By Morgan Lester
Correspondent
Mothers never cease to amaze me. This next marked milestone of mine and my mother’s own life have come together in what I believe will make this Mother’s Day a special one:
Over the past week or so, I realized I was the one who would officially be leaving my parents empty nesters, and I immediately started to worry about ... her. Forget apartment tours, budgeting, or going my own way for the first time. I felt for my mother in a way that I may someday feel for my own children. Her entire life’s work of looking after her babies is coming to an end. I am responsible for closing the last piece of that chapter for her, and while I am excited to take on the world, I cannot help but wonder how she will spend the rest of her time off. “Life is full of firsts,” she’d say to me. Well for the first time, after 40 years of tending to others, she can reclaim her time and enjoy being herself, fully.
Growing up, I began to see things from her point of view. The sacrifices she’d make. Sure she could be overbearing sometimes. Reserved even, but mostly for the quiet. A bit critical, and only out of genuine concern, but never the enemy. Not every part of her made sense to me, and that made me smile on occasion. Why? This woman was only being guided in her sense of self. It meant she didn’t lose it all raising us or in marrying my dad. In fact, she’s probably trying to save whatever’s left. Or maybe she’s cultivated such beautiful spiritual fruit over the years and wants to protect that. Like all children have different needs, she had needs of her own.
While my Mom and I didn’t always agree, we bonded over whatever we did have in common. I refused to have a dysfunctional relationship with my mom or one of estrangement, so I tused every opportunity to get to know her. I learned about her likes and dislikes and let her know I’d be there whenever she needed me.
The bags, boxes, and the car’s all empty, but my head and heart space are filled to the brim with thoughts on mama. I will have to pack soon, and I’d imagine this all must feel as bittersweet for her as it has been for me. I do hope to make her proud and to call to let her know I’m okay at my new place. The roles would reverse soon anyhow, and I wanted to show her that I would do a great job caring for her and dad like they did for us. I am so grateful for my mother and all the time she’s devoted to being present in my life.
Empty nests are symbolic of the strength of those who first learned to fly, and from your last little bird,
I love you, Joan-Marie.
Happy Mother’s Day, moms of the world