by mferrell24
My mother never told jokes. Neither did my father.
In fact jokes being told in the home were not a part of my childhood.
I say this because I know families and people who can tell a good joke, if not repeat one that they heard.
I do not mean jokes used to poke fun at people, but a good rib tickler that enables people to laugh at themselves with others doing the same.
Jokes about facets of life with which we all identify or share knowledge of bring healing.
It let’s us know we are not alone on this journey of life.
It tells us that life presents challenges for everyone on the journey.
I suppose that’s what I miss about the absence of good jokes being told in the home.
I always felt alone, that I no one was on the path I trod.
My mother’s strong temper displayed a frustration that I interpreted as, “Why can’t you get your act together?”
The fact that she could not in any way laugh at herself said,”I know my part in the play of life.”
It’s hard growing up.
It’s hard being a child when the adult(s) around you–particularly your mother appears, to you her daughter, to possess skin of Teflon.
My father experienced constant anxiety.
I know that now I am older and understand the huge role addiction plays in the smoking of cigarettes.
My father was a smoker.
He rolled his cigarettes with paper and the tobacco he carried in a pouch in his pocket.
I do not know if he did rolled his cigarettes because this was cheaper than purchasing them.
I do know that the nicotine content is higher in pouch tobacco versus manufactured cigarettes.
And rolled cigarettes have no filter.
My mother did not smoke.
She had a temper.
Lashing out was her form of therapy.
I wonder if my father would have shown more anger had he not smoked.
I wish I could have said to my mother, I don’t like your anger.
It scares me.
And it makes Daddy smoke more cigarettes, something that I know you want him to stop doing.
Is there something you would have liked to have said, or to say to your mother?
What is it?
And did it involve your parent or any other person in your family?