Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Fortune cookie



It’s been hard for me to express how I feel without sounding schmaltzy. And as hard as I try, I don’t think I can--not sound schmaltzy, that is. Maybe that’s why it’ll fit perfectly here in Imperfect Prose. Okay, deep breath; here it goes:

The night at the Chinese restaurant, when you cracked open your cookie and smilingly read the slip of paper aloud. “I’m keeping this one,” you said. I don’t think you know how much that meant to me. I had to sip my tea so as not to get teary. And when again, you pulled that same slip of paper out of your pocket on the way to the airport, and said, “I’m going to frame it.” It made the parting less painful.


Those late night mother-daughter
Old married lady, new married lady,
Believer-to-believer talks

Sometimes with tears, but mostly hugs and laughter; I’m thankful for every minute, proud of the woman you’ve become, healed in giving what I wished I had had.

I am most fortunate, and God, who keeps His promises, is good.




Joining Emily today
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27 comments:

  1. LeslieJanuary 19, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    It's not schmaltzy at all. And it made me cry, a little. I'm so glad you've been given this fine gift.


    P.S. I saw your comment over at Nancy's and I want to find out what Winnie-the-Pooh character I am : )

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  2. Amy DeTrempeJanuary 19, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    That was a lovely post.

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  3. UnknownJanuary 19, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    oh.

    tears of joy for you sweet Jodi.

    I wish I could hug you.

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  4. Becky AvellaJanuary 19, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    I'm new to Imperfect Prose and stopped by from there. I'm so glad I did. This was a beautiful tribute to the Mother/Daughter bond in adulthood. It made me want to call my mom. : )

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  5. ChelseyJanuary 19, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    This is lovely... I look forward to having this kind of relationship with my adult daughter...

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  6. custom fortune cookiesJanuary 20, 2011 at 12:02 AM

    The relationship between a mother and daughter have a special place in my life. Thanks for the excellent post.

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  7. amyJanuary 20, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    this is so beautiful jodi. what a blessed mama you are.

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  8. CherylJanuary 20, 2011 at 5:27 AM

    You must have a beautiful bond, which, I bet, is strong despite the distance.

    (Just spotted your new header. You've stuck with the colour coded book system! Makes me want to grab a coffee, select a book and sit down in one of your cosy chairs.)

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  9. Brian MillerJanuary 20, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    big smiles. no this is a good one...one of those moments to hold onto...

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  10. NancyJanuary 20, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    You do schmaltzy well, and you hit all the right notes here. Just before wedding dress shopping, baby girl opened a fortune cookie that said, "Relax." I kid you not. Could it be, we see the Hand of Providence superintending even fortune cookies?

    And, of course, you're Christopher Robin.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    i bet you are a great mommy...and she's going to frame it!

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  12. MistyJanuary 20, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    love this, jodi. wish i'd had more moments like that w/ my own mom, but we're in our hard meandering forgiveness journey now, i think, so maybe one day. and as a daughter on the other side of the fence, i didn't htink it was scmaltzy at all.

    and random: but if that is your home in the header pic (and i think it must be b/cs i spy w/ my little eye a bookshelf that seems color coordinate?!!?) then i desperately want to come over for a cup of tea. sigh.

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  13. life or something like itJanuary 20, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    how wonderful. :)

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  14. UnknownJanuary 20, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    gah! This kills me. It's lovely, not smchoozie (or whatever you were calling it). What a sweet love story

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  15. KitJanuary 20, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    Jodi,
    I love this and don't find it schamltzy. It's filled with grace and it's real. I'm so grateful for my mom in so many ways (though we don't talk of things of the Lord much).
    You AND your daughter are deeply blessed. Love to you!

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  16. JodiJanuary 21, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    JoAnn, schmooze I like. Schmaltz I find hard to take. Love you.

    Nancy, that's awesome! I do believe divine providence has a hand even in fortune cookies.

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  17. JodiJanuary 21, 2011 at 12:36 AM

    Cheryl, I'm surprised I stuck with the color coded system, too. It's a lot of work. And sometimes I think I'm ridiculous for trying. Anyways, you're welcome to a cuppa here anytime.

    You too, Misty.

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  18. JodiJanuary 21, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    Deb, I wish you could, too :)

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  19. joannaJanuary 21, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    Jodi

    This is divine --- only you could have come up with something so simple and so sublime.

    joanny

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  20. alittlebitograceJanuary 21, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    that is just beautiful!

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  21. Mommy EmilyJanuary 21, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    oh jodi... this brought tears. what a beautiful daughter you must have. what a tender moment. i'm so glad you shared it at imperfect. these are the moments we live for...

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  22. Emily YoungJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  23. Emily YoungJanuary 22, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    That's so sweet! It's great that your daughter has a mom she can share her life with.

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  24. Emily YoungJanuary 22, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    P.S. Yes, I did take the photo of the lake! Thank you for the compliment :) It was for my photojournalism class last semester...

    Oh, six degrees outside? I can't even picture that. It's 51 right now and I'm freezing, and my dog is only staying calm because of her lovely space heater....

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  25. DeborahJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Love, love, love this post....mother and daughter love....I am blessed to know this great love too.

    Deborah xoxo

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  26. JoyJanuary 25, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    Finally our computer is fixed! Woot! Love love love this post I read it over and over. I'm glad you shared and I am glad to know what it meant to you. I'm so glad I had it in my pocket at the airport. I will have to take a picture of it when I find a frame.

    <3

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  27. Bethany AnnJanuary 25, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    what mother wouldn't get teary at that? it's magnificent!

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