About Our Mother — Part II

On June 24, I penned (okay, typed) an article here (“About Our Mother”) on the demise of our mother church, Coliseum Place Baptist Church of New Orleans, and the upcoming 90th birthday of my terrific mother, Lois Kilgore McKeever. As I am wont to do, I gave her address for anyone who would like to send her a birthday note. July 14 is her big day. Anyway…

In that article, I was paying tribute to Mom’s humor. I mentioned that she had told me a joke the day before, but I could not recall what it was. My sister Carolyn printed out the article and took it to her, so the next time we talked, Mom said, “All right, I’ll tell you the joke again.” (It’s so easy to forget who is the elder and who is the ‘youngster’ in this conversation.)

“This woman received a prescription from her doctor. The handwriting was so awful, she couldn’t make out what it said. She gave it to her pharmacist and asked him to read to her what the doctor had written. He read, ‘I’ve got all I can get out of her, now see how much you can get.'”

Mom said, “I was standing in the line at the drug store the other day. A man was in front of me and I told him that story. He laughed so hard, I thought he was going to lose it right there.”

Most definitely, not your typical 90 year old. Wednesday morning, when I called her, she said, “I’m making fried pies.” For her children. The ones who live close enough to drive over for lunch, not me. “I’ve made 15,” she said, “and have several more to go.” You would call them turnovers. They melt in your mouth.

My wife wonders why I start conversations with complete strangers. It’s a family tradition.

3 thoughts on “About Our Mother — Part II

  1. Joe,

    My mom used to make fried pies as well. I tried once. I’ve got the scar to prove it.

    I start conversations with total strangers also. Proves we are related.

    Mary

  2. Our daughter Moira talks to anyone also, and she always says the same thing, “I’m Moira, what’s you name”? She can talk your ear off, wonder who she got that from? I have no idea. Smile.

  3. My sister, Lynne, is famous also for beginning conversations with complete strangers. On the way to meet Lynne at the Riverwalk one day, her two kids and mine were entertaining each other with stories of how their moms share that tendency. As we reached the top of the escalator and looked through the Riverwalk’s glass wall, sure enough, there was Lynne having a very one-sided conversation with a MIME! What a sight!

    Thank you, Bro. Joe for all you are doing. Your postings lift my spirits and bring me to my knees.

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