Mother』s Day Pink

It』s sunny day in mid-May, when grim overhead clouds don』t threaten to dull everyone』s mood. The sun』s shining and the skies are a startling blue, weather so perfect it belongs in a fairy tale. It』s fitting for Mother』s Day.

At the Hahn school, first graders spent hours on cards cut out with stenciled scissors, drowning the construction paper in glue and glitter. Or they pour their young artistic talents into ceramic plant-holders, filled with scented raspberry candles that on the way home are scratched and sullied. They are clumsy gifts, and yet mothers adore them. Such is the acceptance and tolerance of motherhood, something that lets them forgive even the biggest mistakes or the worst behaviors.

The raining season has finally come to an end, our friend the Californian sun is out to play. Cherry blossoms swirl gracefully in the wind, continuing their joyful journeys with renewed vigor. The air is fresh with the powdery smell of new spring, and of the infamous May flowers that the April showers bring-- blooming roses, daisies, carnations and lilies in the ancient bird pond long forgotten.

With spring and Mother』s day at each other』s heels, a laughing, amiable spirit pervades everyone. That includes the cranky termagant on the corner lot, whose garden is usually littered with toys the neighborhood kids are too scared to retrieve. From Penngrove』s Main Street to Napa』s La Plaza Park, spring』s harbingers radiate in every corner, spewing lawn mowers, the steady thump of basketballs, and snippets of conversation.                     

A very embarrassed 12-year-old boy mutters, 「Love you, Mom」 to the plump lady next to him. She glows with pleasure. Beneath the layers of masochism and male insensitivity, she knows she still has her little boy who clamored for the extra bedtime story and good night kiss. Passing the newly opened Pacific Market, I caught glimpses of businessmen in dark suits that seemed to be in frantic rush to purchase a gift. My indignation at their forgetfulness turned into understanding. After all, there were quite a few times when I forgot Mother』s day as well.

The floral department of the grocery store is sold out, blooms ignored since Valentines Day bought and delivered. Hallmark, the greeting card maker, is doing brisk businesses.

Everywhere, there are children paying tribute to their mothers. Some are sweet and dainty, like the little girl next door, who flies into her mother』s arms in a flurry of rose tulle and light pink satin. Others are dark and sedate, the somber, flustered men who hold out flowers wilting in the afternoon heat to elderly ladies with a 「Happy mother』s day」, said in such a comical, grave way, that after moments of almost disturbing silence, all collapse into laughter.

That day, daughters who are usually rebellious and unruly kiss mothers on the cheeks. Sons who are often too busy to say good-bye to their mothers spend entire afternoons with them. Young people who think they are above their parents come home to celebrate the day of the woman who had been laundress, cook, chauffeur, teacher, counselor, all in one --- a mother.

The shine of pink radiated from everywhere that day. Ruddy cheeks, laughing eyes, smiles that grace faces with excited flush; they are all bright pink, with a placid compassion, or with heated passion. For pink represents tenderness, warmth, and the kind of unconditional love that are the characteristics of mothers.

Happy mother』s day!

粉色的母親節

這是五月里的一個陽光明媚的日子，當壓頭的烏雲不再成為沉悶大家的心情的威脅，日頭高照，天空出奇的藍，如此完美的天氣只有在童話里才有。這一天很適合做母親節。

在瑪格麗特·哈恩小學，一群一年級小朋友在剪刀剪出來的卡片上花了好幾個小時，施工紙(construction paper)幾乎被膠水和閃光粉淹沒。另一些則將他們年輕的藝術才華傾注在陶瓷植物盆上，再配上滿是樹莓香味的蠟燭，在回家的路上卻被刮傷或弄髒了。這些是笨拙的禮物，但母親們崇拜它們。這就是母性的接受和寬容，讓她們原諒即使是最大的錯誤和最壞的表現。

雨季終於告一段落，我們的好朋友加州的太陽出去玩了。櫻花在風中優雅地旋轉著，以新的活力繼續著他們的快樂行程。空氣里有一種初春的花粉氣味，以及四月雨(April showers) 所帶來的臭名遠揚的五月花 (May flowers)  -  盛開的玫瑰，雛菊，康乃馨還有在早已被人遺忘古老的池塘里的野百合。

隨著春天和母親節前後腳地來到，人人都顯得心情舒暢，和藹可親。這包括住在街角的兇巴巴的母老虎，她的院子撒滿了鄰居家小孩不敢索回的玩具。從Penngrove大街到Napa的LaPlaza公園，春天的預兆來到的每一個角落，蓬蓬做響的割草機，撲通撲通的籃球，還可以聽到交談的隻言片語。

一個非常尷尬的12歲男孩對著他旁邊的豐滿女士喃喃地說道，「我愛你，媽媽」。她則興奮的容光煥發。在層層的大男子主義和男性麻木之下，她知道，那個想要額外的睡前故事和晚安之吻的小男孩還在那裡。穿過新開張的Pacific市場，我看見了個身著深色西裝的商人的身影，他似乎手忙腳亂地購買一件禮物。我因為他的健忘產生的憤慨後來化作理解。畢竟，我也好幾次差點忘記母親節。

雜貨店的鮮花部已經售空，情人節后就被人忽略的鮮花重獲青睞。賀卡的製造商，Hallmark，做輕快的生意。

到處都有孩子向他們的母親致敬。有些是甜美和講究，像隔壁的小女孩，身著玫瑰薄紗和粉色緞面，飛向母親的懷裡。有些則是黑暗而沉重，憂鬱，心慌男子將在下午熱浪中萎蔫的花束獻給一位年長的太太，「母親節快樂」說的很嚴肅很滑稽，在經歷了幾乎令人不安的沉默后，大家都跌倒在哄堂大笑中。

那一天，通常叛逆不羈的女兒在母親的臉頰上親吻了一下，通常忙的來不及向母親道別的兒子陪伴她們整整一個下午。那些自認為高於自己父母的年輕人回家來慶祝他們生命中最重要的女人的日子。這個女人曾經是他的洗衣工，廚師，司機，教師，輔導員，多位一體 -- 他們的母親。

那一天粉紅的光澤輻射到世界各個角落。紅潤的臉頰，含笑的眼睛，甜美的微笑，都戴在興奮的臉上; 或是平靜的憐憫，或是熱烈的激情。因為粉紅色代表柔情，溫暖，和無條件的愛，這都是母性的特徵。


母親節快樂！


白露為霜註：「粉色的母親節」原本是大女兒大寶在高中時寫的一篇課堂作文，要求是描寫母親節看到的場景。文章修改後在本地英文報紙上發表。當時大寶13歲。母親節將近，白露將它翻譯成中文，也算交差。


Read more: 粉色的母親節 - 白露為霜的日誌 - 貝殼村

太甜蜜了！母女情深。

總斑竹 發表於 2012-5-24 06:52
太甜蜜了！母女情深。

謝謝總版主。