Someone's a big girl!
September 23, 2011
I may be outing my mom, because a number of her friends and acquaintances thinks she's 65. Not only do they think she's 65, they also believe (correctly) that she looks extraordinarily good for a 65-year-old. I'm a little concerned that if any of them find out the truth they won't survive the shock/envy. Then again, none of those people know how to work an Internet.
At any rate: it is impossible to sum up how wonderfully hilarious and infuriating my mother is. She is a never-ending source of entertainment and blog material. Here, in no particular order, is but a sampling of just some of the insightful/hilarious/baffling tidbits my mother has passed along to me throughout these many years.
75 Things My Mom Has Told Me
1. I don't trust boring people.
2. Be proud of your ass. Seriously. It's a good ass. You got that from me.
3. Don't chew gum with your mouth open.
4. When you're really stuck, just act like you're stupid.
5. You will never beat me at arm wrestling. But you're getting better! No, really, I kind of had to resist this time.
6. This music is not too loud. Don't be an old lady.
7. If you're playing loud music and not dancing, there's something wrong with you.
8. Add lots of olive oil to that.
9. I'm sure you kids make fun of me behind my back. Whatever.
10. It's a funny story--they thought I was a prostitute! Of course I wasn't.
11. I can teach you how to salsa, get up.
12. Going to bed before midnight is weird.
13. You need to get rich so I can live in a wing of your house. Or a floor, I'll take a floor.
14. It's 5 pm. That's cocktail hour.
15. Don't take yourself so seriously.
16. If you're going to make your bed, do a good job at least.
17. All those celebrities are gay. All of them.
18. I swear I don't know what I'm going to do with you.
19. You might be annoyed with me now, but someday you're going to miss this.
20. There is nothing better than broccoli rabe. IT'S FULL OF ANTI-OXIDANTS.
21. No one should ski. Who the hell likes the cold?
22. You should listen to that woman on the radio, what's her name. She's smart.
23. Always wear a little makeup.
24. You know who flirts with women in their 70s? Men in their 90s. It's disgusting.
25. My father had beautiful feet.
26. What? It's not weird to know about your father's feet.
27. Don't write anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.
28. Those Swiffer things, what do you call them, they're the best.
29. You can too drink wine while you're pregnant.
30. Doctors never know what they're talking about.
31. Don't make me worry.
32. Everything's going to be fine! I said the Rosary about it.
33. You'll always have your family.
34. Except the family members who are pieces of crap.
35. I don't care how little money you have, that's no reason not to get a pedicure.
36. There's no excuse for not knowing how to spell. Okay, maybe dyslexia. I'm not talking about that!
37. You can't go wrong with beige. Or a nice ecru.
38. There are some good things about getting old. You lose all your body hair, which is nice.
39. If you're feeling bad, you can wallow for a while, and then you get over it!
40. When you get older, the key word is "dewy," Alice. You want to look dewy.
41. There's nothing wrong with only having one kid. Sometimes I wished I only had one! I don't mean it like THAT.
42. Make fun of me all you like. I'll haunt you some day.
43. Cheap crap is crap. Why would you buy cheap crap?
44. I'm so glad you're not dyeing your hair that horrible red color anymore. I didn't want to say anything.
45. Birthday cards don't count unless they're sent in the mail. [Note: I screw this one up every year.]
46. You were the first one of my children to call on my birthday! You're my favorite this year.
47. Those e-cards don't count. Don't you dare send me those.
48. Fine, I'll cut down on the Christmas gifts, but I have to get you something.
49. Your boyfriend is Jewish? Good. I have no problem with the Jews.
50. New York in the fifties!
51. Why would anyone live in New Jersey? That's where they dump the bodies.
52. Before I got my cataracts removed, I looked amazing.
53. No boys allowed in your bedroom. I don't care if it's your gay friend.
54. I never did anything half as embarrassing to you as my mother did to me. [Pretty sure this is true.]
55. When I die, cremate me and throw my ashes at Harry Belafonte. [This may not be something she said, but it is something I'm planning.]
56. Of course I'm going to spoil Henry. I'm the grandma. Get over it.
57. I'm just saying, I think she might be gay. She wears these glasses and she has that short hair.
58. Also she lives with this other woman and they sleep in the same bed. You can't tell me that's not a thing.
59. What do you mean, you're not coming home for Thanksgiving Eve?
60. When that dog of yours dies, I don't want to be around.
61. I'd never live in a place where there's a dry heat. Those people all look like mummies.
62. You definitely did not get my chest. I've got nothing.
63. There is nothing I hate more than texting.
64. I happened to think those email jokes were funny. I'll never send you any jokes ever again. Don't be like what?
65. It's just money, Alice.
66. I don't know where we are! Your father's driving.
67. You didn't call so I left you a message. Not "several" messages.
68. I love that blog you wrote! "Post," whatever.
69. I just hope you're raising Henry with some religion. I'm not saying you have to go to CHURCH.
70. Never lie to your mother.
71. You were always so modest growing up. And now…
72. I don't know where you learned that fucking language.
73. Just hope you didn't inherit those Irish genes, because believe me they did not age well. Their faces all fall to their waists.
74. Life is too short.
75. Call your mother.
I love you, Mom. Happy birthday. And here's to another 75 years! If anyone could pull that off it would be you.
Please, everyone, wish my mom a happy birthday. And if you feel like sharing any words of wisdom your mother has imparted to you at some point in your life, that would be great.
Reader Comments (140)
Hi Alice, WendyB of Wendy Brandes Jewelry brought me here. Your mom's gorgeous! Thanks for this highlarious post :-)
Hi Mary Anne, I hope I'd be as beautiful as you are when I get there, happy birthday, have a great time celebrating the platinum jubilee!!
Happy Birthday, Ms. Mary Anne!
Every morning my mother would drive by the same tiny, lime green, run down, shack of a house on the way to dropping me off at school.....and every single time we passed that house she would say "You better do good in school, get good grades and get into college so you don't have to live in the ghetto house!"
Something must have sunk in because I did graduate from high school, then college and my house isn't anywhere near lime green.
Happy birthday, Alice's mom!
From my mom: "There's been a little bit of pee in every meal I ever cooked you." (Said when I saw her emerge from the bathroom at her house and asked if she wasn't going to wash her hands.)
Hi there!! Happy Birthday to Alice's mum, a really brilliant post!
What an inspiration! I hope I am half as funny to my daughter.
Happy Birthday, Mary Anne! A gift of advice from my mother: No matter how old you are, always wear beautiful underwear. No, not in case you're in an accident! Because you're the one who knows it's there, and it gives you an empowering secret. Unless the wind blows your skirt up. But even then, it's easier to play off if they're not cotton!
Your Mom sounds great. Happy birthday, Mary Anne!
My mother comes out with some er, interesting things herself. Earlier today, she said she hated when women are put into categories by the media, "Like with these 'blogging mommies'." A couple of weeks ago, she said, "I hate having things around my feet. And that's another reason I need to move abroad." (?) She also often says, 'You'll miss me when I'm gone." Too true.
Aww, happy birthday! Your mom sounds awesome.
Some motherly pearls of wisdom for Alice's Mommy:
1. Say what you mean and mean what you say
2. Try it on, it might look different than on the hanger
3. Write it down
4. Would you want someone to treat you that way?
Happy Birthday to your Mom! She's beautiful!
I didn't get too many words of wisdome from my mom (I was raised by a village), but the one thing that's stuck with me is to always pack practical shoes. Of course, our ideas of practical are a bit diferent.
Happy Birthday, Mom!
My mother's sage advice:
"Don't pick that dog. Sure, it looks cute but it looks like a vomiter. You already had one of those. Don't do it again."
Happy belated birthday, Alice's Mom! Also you remind me so much of my mother it's frightening. Must be that NY Italian thing.
Happy 75th birthday, Alice's mom! My mom's birthday is Saturday, and I am taking her to the dog track. I hope Alice does the same for you ; )
What a great list. The one piece of advice I always remember verbatim, at least once a week, is "You don't have to like everyone, but you do have to be nice to them."
Also, "Don't let some man take care of you. You need your own money. Anything could happen."
This is amazing. Thank you!
(And Happy Birthday to your lovely mother.)
Happy Birthday Alice's Mom! Your daughter is a credit to you. :-)
Your mom sounds like an amazing woman. Happy belated birthday!
Happy Belated Birthday Mary Ann!
What a great list of quotes and fabulous wisdom.
My mother has said many awesome things over the years that are hard to remember pre-coffee. One I liked- because it turned out to be true- was 'Your 30s will be better than your 20s'.
I think I will take Mary Ann's advice and call my mom today. (And maybe ask her about your *40s*, since that's where I am now...)
Happy birthday Alice's Mom! This was the best post ever.
Happy birthday, Mary Ann. I'm sorry this doesn't count because it's on the internets but you sound awesome.
Happy Birthday! I would go to my mom with a hurt wrist and say, "Mom, my wrist hurts when I bend it like this." She would reply, "Well, don't bend it then." The wisdom of mothers. I have already said that exact line to my 4-year-old.
Thanks for imparting your brand of wisdom on your daughter, who shares it so well with the rest of us.
Again, happy birthday!
you have got one of the best moms in the whole world, she looks very nice and polite, may she live long
god bless you both
Happy Birthday to Alice's Mom!
Something my Mom told me that stuck with me:
There's no such thing as luck. You make your own luck.
She's darling, and full of wisdom. Happy Birthday, Alice's mom!
My mom's words of wisdom:
"Those who talk about it don't do it, and those who do it don't talk about it."
She was referring to s-e-x, but it really applies to so many things in life.
Also? Dance while cooking. It makes it more fun.
Happy Birthday Alice's Mom!
I've got one to piggyback with the only child comment: "pregnancy changes everything; if you were smart, you'd ADOPT."
Thank you, Mother who gave birth to me.