My mother write this on October 11, 1989, three days before my birthday and thirty-five days before she passed away. You may be 21 now, but don't forget the things of your childhood--they keep you young forever. ... The other things are just stuff, some old, some new, you might be able to use. ... …
Category: letters
ideal mother
On December 28, 1984, my mother wrote: I love you very much, Marta. It's probably hard to believe sometimes--I know I'm difficult as a person, and nobody's idea of "Mother", but I never learned how to be anything but myself. I wish for you the same. What is everyone's idea of "Mother"?
leave home
A few days after I left for my freshman year of college, my mother wrote me this story. When I left home for the first time, I was 20, and it was 1964. The first Beatles record had come out that summer, and I took the Silver Meteor with my sister Susan up to D.C. …
It’s your choice.
In June of 1985 my mom wrote me this. I have thought long and hard about a lot of things. Since you have never really asked me for anything, nor reproached me for anything, your requests have a great deal of weight with me. I've always loved you as your mother, but let me say, …
you know the unicorn is there
In April of 1989, seven months before she passed away, my mom wrote this. You'll probably call this weekend, but I wanted to ask you how your reading went. Talk about being on the spot! To just say "I enjoyed your poetry" sounds rather insipid. I wish I were not your mother so I could …
you can judge
On my 19th birthday, my mom wrote me this. I really appreciate your sending me the copies of your poems; I know that took some courage. I enjoyed them, as poems. As a mother, of course, I have to wonder about contentm but I work at not doing that. Parents are never the ones to …
no apologies necessary
When I was 18 years old, my mother wrote me this. Something you said really struck me, and I wanted to reply to that. It was when you said you knew you'd been a lot of trouble. Well, yes, you've been a lot of trouble...a lot of pain and sorrow and just plain ain-in-the-ass. Point …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 