tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post113052534753084191..comments2023-05-17T12:11:30.400+01:00Comments on Slap of the Day: It’s all my mother’s fault – a tribute (of sorts)Belahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130896756102659282005-11-02T01:59:00.000+00:002005-11-02T01:59:00.000+00:00Thanks, TLP. I love the stories you tell about you...Thanks, TLP. I love the stories you tell about your Mama. :-)Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130810500223282192005-11-01T02:01:00.000+00:002005-11-01T02:01:00.000+00:00Good post. My Mama was a sweetheart. She didn't ...Good post. My Mama was a sweetheart. She didn't have the money to dress me up. Maybe I was lucky after all. But I love that outfit that you picture.TLPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02837578489728318423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130809989958281602005-11-01T01:53:00.000+00:002005-11-01T01:53:00.000+00:00How embarrassing for you, L! Children do not want ...How embarrassing for you, L! Children do not want to stand out. <BR/><BR/>My mother loved furs too - everyone did at the time. I have to confess I did own a fur coat, years ago, before it became unacceptable. We were very unaware. There's a fur revival at the moment, but, these days, it would never occur to me to wear anything that was killed for its pelt.Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130808584210291792005-11-01T01:29:00.000+00:002005-11-01T01:29:00.000+00:00My mother dressed me up far too chicly (take THAT,...My mother dressed me up far too chicly (take THAT, Jacqueline!) for my own comfort. I will never forget having to wear ankle boots, cashmere turtlenecks and wool trousers to school in the FIRST GRADE!!!! Everyone else was wearing plaid dresses and saddle shoes. I've been on the margin of conventional society ever since. (How the children laughed when she came to walk me home from school, she in her fox fur hats. Don't ask and I won't tell.)Laurelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02050096410382276071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130773633181213792005-10-31T15:47:00.000+00:002005-10-31T15:47:00.000+00:00Thanks, K! My mother was quite a character, no dou...Thanks, K! My mother was quite a character, no doubt about that. LOL! <BR/><BR/>Indeed, T, two out of three people mispronounce that phrase (at least here in the UK). I think they want to sound clever and show that they know that the 's' in 'gras' isn't sounded, except that, er, it's "coup de grâce" not "coup de gras". I absolutely love your definition of the latter. LOL!<BR/><BR/>If I'd been born on that day I probably would be dressing up at the drop of a hat too. Your poor mum! And, you're a bit of both, like all of us, I expect. :-)Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130728274625410842005-10-31T03:11:00.000+00:002005-10-31T03:11:00.000+00:00Fantastic poem. Fantastic mother. Truly child-sham...Fantastic poem. Fantastic mother. Truly child-shaming costume. <BR/><BR/>What would a coup de gras be? (Do people really pronounce it like that?) Would it be like when the sumo wrestlers smack each other with their obese bellies?<BR/><BR/>I confess, I've always loved dressing up in costume, for any reason, or none at all. Blame it on my birthday, the morning after Halloween. Imagine my poor mother: 9-months pregnant, sitting at the door, passing out chocolate bars on her very first Halloween (it being her first year in the States), when lo, her water breaks. Now the question: was I a trick or a treat? Ho ho!Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05744380759887516569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130717638768121092005-10-31T00:13:00.000+00:002005-10-31T00:13:00.000+00:00greatsheelephant - you say "extortion racket" like...greatsheelephant - you say "extortion racket" like it's a bad thing ;) <BR/><BR/>I miss dressing up every year for Halloween. And no, I don't think it's the same when you're all grown up. Something magic-feeling happens when you're little and in costume. <BR/><BR/>Love this post. You must have a million stories about your ma.katiedidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13248305568368727274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130687156370615252005-10-30T15:45:00.000+00:002005-10-30T15:45:00.000+00:00"Through a glass darkly" is such a lovely phrase! ..."Through a glass darkly" is such a lovely phrase! <BR/><BR/>It's quite possible I would have shed my shy carapace eventually. Working in the theatre helped a lot – and realizing life’s too short to tiptoe around. They say shyness comes from self-consciousness and ultimately arrogance: an inflated idea of your own importance (you know, believing that people are looking at you and judging you, when, in fact, they couldn’t care less). Once you become aware of that... it's very liberating. <BR/><BR/>Looks like I should be thankful for the Polish costume: it most definitely could have been worse. Adults can be so cruel to kids.Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130601292178349512005-10-29T16:54:00.000+01:002005-10-29T16:54:00.000+01:00Have suddenly realised that St Paul's 'through a d...Have suddenly realised that St Paul's 'through a dim mirror' is the modern equivalent of 'through a glass darkly' - isn't it? (Bible scholars please step forward.) I prefer the older language - but the idea is moving anyway. And connected surely, too, to Plato's cave and the shadows?<BR/><BR/>Bela, did your mother's exhortations really work, or would you maybe always have grown out of being shy and her pushing you forward delayed it by making you embarrassed? We will never know.<BR/><BR/>My father used to tell me dirty jokes when I was a child in front of adult company and then ask me to try to explain them. They all thought it was hilarious, whether I could attempt some sort of stammered suggestion, or whether I admitted ignorance. I think I would have preferred the Polish costume. What is it with adults - do they *always* forget what it's like being a child?Luluhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08166733963939080151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130599136295009532005-10-29T16:18:00.000+01:002005-10-29T16:18:00.000+01:00GSE: I meant to slap Halloween, but, when I realiz...GSE: I meant to slap Halloween, but, when I realized what date it was, I decided to modify my original post. I don’t understand the way that ancient festival has evolved at all. Have you heard of the eggs sold by Asda? The boxes bore the mention “Halloween Fun” and the eggs were obviously meant to be thrown by kids. Asda denied it was the aim, but they didn’t fool anyone. They said they would make sure they were sold only to adults. What nonsense! There are stylish ways of exorcizing death, but throwing eggs and flour at passers-by isn’t one of them. Nor is trick or treating.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, D! My “difficult” parents produced a “difficult” child. <BR/><BR/>What’s ironic, M, is that I’m now the least shy person I know. My mother’s exhortations finally bore fruit – too late for her to approve. I hope your mother’s also “rowing” peacefully up there. :-)Belahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16935284724145788208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130558662669506442005-10-29T05:04:00.000+01:002005-10-29T05:04:00.000+01:00ahhhh, I had the same type of "robust" relationshi...ahhhh, I had the same type of "robust" relationship with my mother ... who was always <I>pushing</I> me to do something. I'm sure she's sitting up there (or wherever) going tsk, tsk. *mwah* to them both. xoxomireillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02012296353550408831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130549744271124612005-10-29T02:35:00.000+01:002005-10-29T02:35:00.000+01:00Beautiful post, J. That Billy Collins poem is a fa...Beautiful post, J. <BR/><BR/>That Billy Collins poem is a favorite of mine. It reminds me of St. Paul's earnest promise - the best thing he ever wrote - that now we see things as though in a dim mirror; but some day we shall see face to face and we shall know as fully as we are known. <BR/><BR/>Not slaps, but hugs - to you and your mother, and to all parents and children who have such a difficult time seeing each other clearly.red-queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17538275323124092409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14028331.post-1130526964987311852005-10-28T20:16:00.000+01:002005-10-28T20:16:00.000+01:00Can we slap Halloween please. I simply cannot unde...Can we slap Halloween please. I simply cannot understand why trick and treating is viewed as a wholesome activity for children rather than being seen for what it really is - a large scale organised extortion racket.GreatSheElephanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06589100964804729527noreply@blogger.com