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Happy Mother's Day, Mom

I have often thought that my parents had a careful division of labor. My dad taught me craft, my mom taught me art. My dad taught me ethics, my mom taught me morals. In one regard things weren't equal though, and that was in regarding to reading and writing. Dad had no time for fiction, mom had little time for non-fiction. I followed after my mom, at least until recently.

Mom forgave me the fact that I never liked, and still don't like, Steinbeck. I prefer Heinlein and Clark and Asimov and Bradbury and Ellison. She was my first reader and most honest critic. When she read Derelict's first draft in a day I knew I had something that could sell.

One of my best memories revolves around her birthday in 1975. My birthday treat to mom was to take her to a movie and buy her Bon-Bons. 1975 was the year of Jaws, so that's where I took her. We were both fans of Peter Benchley's novel and I told her going in, since I'd already seen the film a few times, that I thought it might actually be better than the book. This, of course, to a reader is heresy.

And so we sat and watched Jaws at the Coliseum Theatre in San Francisco one week night. We managed to ignore the fool behind us (though it was entertaining listening to him go from "This film sucks" to deep breathing in the middle, to screaming at the end, "Shoot, shoot!"). By halfway though the film she was clinging to my arm, Bon-Bons (almost) forgotten. Every time she jumped my shoulder felt like it was dislocated.

But I didn't mind. I was with my mom. And at the end she said, "Y0u know, Robert [she always called me that, "Bob" being reserved for my dad], you might be right. It's at least as good as the book."

My mom concluded God's work for her on this world in 1995. That's 13 years now and I miss her every day, especially on this day. I know she and dad are out there waiting for me, excited to resume some discussion on one thing or another.

Until then I have memories, like seeing Jaws, and feel well blessed yet undeserving of a mother such as her.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

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