For Ima On Ima's Day

My mother never wanted to be called "mom" or "mum" or any sort of accepted diminutive when my brother and I were growing up.  It was "Mummy" or nothing. This was okay until we hit the double digits in age -- difficult to retain credibility as an angsty teen while calling someone Mummy -- and took matters into our own hands.  I chose "Ima" (Eee-ma), the Hebrew word for mother, and Nick chose "Mamoo" (no idea -- as with most things he does, kitchen or otherwise, it’s an original.)  She accepted the change, as she always does, and embraced her inner Ima/Mamoo-ness. 

When people ask her about her kids living so far away -- I'm in Ireland and Nick's in London to her Atlanta -- she always replies, "well, I didn't raise them just to keep them by my side." Rather, she gave us love, support (so much support!), a sense of possibility, a curiosity about the world and all the tools we needed to make our own way.    

I wish I could be there in person to deliver the flowers and go for a marathon shopping day this afternoon -- punctuated by a coffee and biscuit break when she senses I'm cranky and flagging (it’s our thing) -- but we'll settle for celebrating properly in person next month.  In the meantime, here below is a non-exhaustive list of the life lessons and skills she's gifted me over the years.  In no particular order:

Brown is not my color
There is a right way to lay/set a table, and there's a wrong way...
The art of diplomacy (a Darbyshire family trait)
How to wear a hat REALLY well
French!
How to make a house a home, wherever you are in the world
The art of pashmina
A (crazed) love of dogs
How to entertain (also a Darbyshire family trait)
That it’s more fun to exercise than diet
An appreciation of British humor
A total aversion to toilet humor
That you can achieve the same effect with a stacked heel vs. a stiletto (and be more comfortable!) 
Thank you notes are not optional
Posture! (I get compliments today -- she would be proud) 
Her recipe for tomato-fennel soup -- my taste of home 

I could go on, but I'll save some for next year's post :)  For now, sending a big thank you -- for all she's done and continues to do -- and lotsaluv across the Atlantic...

Happy Ima's Day, Ima OXO