CLEVELAND — It marked one of the first times I remember seeing my mother cry. They were Mother's Day tears I remember when I was nine that came because of the gift I had brought her.
It was in my childhood house many decades ago. The old house has long been empty, but there are memories inside its walls -- including those surrounding the Mother's Day when I was age nine.
That year, I sat on these steps wondering what would be a nice Mother's Day gift. Dad would have one, which would also come from my sister and me. But I wanted one - especially from me.
I jingled all the money I had, 75 cents in my pocket.
It was the 1950's. The old neighborhood bustled with businesses so I went shopping. With only 75 cents I sought a store which sold all kinds of inexpensive trinkets.
But 75 cents didn't go very far. Dejected, I started to leave a novelty store when the man behind the counter called me back. He had a bottle of perfume about the size of my thumb.
"Ladies really go for this stuff," he said, looking for a quick sale. I asked him the name of the cheap perfume. "Atom Bomb," he replied.
And there on the label with the name was a picture made to resemble an explosion.
This was the 1950s and news of the testing or stockpiling of atomic bombs was mentioned almost every day. So I gave the man the 75 cents and left with atom bomb perfume.
With a homemade Mother's Day card and the Atom Bomb perfume wrapped in a brown paper bag, I gave the gift to my teary-eyed mother who cried tears of joy. She hugged me as her tears touched my face. Mother dabbed some of the perfume behind her ear. The cheap novelty store perfume probably stank, but no matter.
Mother wore it anyway. At least that one time.
Many decades later after Mother died, the bottle of Atom Bomb perfume was still among her fragrances. The atomic bomb explosion picture was still there, but faded. The perfume was gone; probably long evaporated. After Mother passed, I held the bottle and thought back to my first Mother's Day gift.
Over the years I had grown to fully understand the gift I had given was really an expression of my love.
In memory, I can see the tears streaming down Mother's cheeks and still feel her warm embrace on a Mother's Day long, long ago.
Happy Mother's Day to all who have served in that role.
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