So, let me tell you about my mum her names Margaret, shes 89 now, and she moved in with me two years ago. Honestly, ever since, the entire house seems to move to her calm, steady rhythm. Every morning, just before eight, I can hear her gently waking up, softly chatting to our old, very dignified twenty-three-year-old cat called Mr. Whiskers. She fusses over him as if he were an infant, making sure hes got his breakfast and hasnt a care in the world.
After that, Mum makes herself a proper English breakfast and heads out to the conservatory with her mug of tea. She likes to sit there quietly, just easing herself into the day. Once shes properly awake, she grabs the mop and as she puts it, Just to keep from seizing up! and cleans all the floors in the house. Bear in mind, its about 240 square metres, so Im always amazed at her energy. If shes got a bit of extra pep, shell cook up something for lunch, tidy the kitchen, and maybe do a few stretches.
Afternoons are hers alone: she pampers her skin, does her hair, and keeps up with her little beauty routines, switching it up each day. Sometimes she pulls out her massive wardrobe and starts sorting through everything: deciding what to pass on to me, what to take to the charity shop, and what might fetch a few quid online. I always tease her:
Mum, you could have invested all this and lived like royalty by now!
She just laughs it off and says, Oh, I love my things. Anyway, itll all be yours one day your sisters got no sense of style.
For fun, we get out about five times a week for a long walk by the lake five kilometres each trip, mind you. Once a month she meets her friends for a catch-up. She adores books and is slowly but surely reading her way through my whole library. Every day, without fail, she rings her older sister, whos ninety-one. Her sister comes to stay with us twice a year and its always a treat.
Other than Mr. Whiskers, Mums greatest love is the tablet I got her for Christmas. Shes always reading up on her favourite British authors and composers, tuning in to alternative news, and watching ballets, operas, and concerts online. Sometimes, late at night, Ill hear her through the door giggling at herself:
I really ought to get some sleep… but its impossible when someones put Pavarotti on YouTube!
Honestly, Mum and her sister must have struck gold in the genetic lottery. Ive still got this picture I took when shed just flown back to England two years ago she dressed specially for the flight and everything.
She looked at it and said, I look dreadful in this photo!
And as always, Id tell her, Mum, at your age, most people dont even get the chance to live like you do, let alone look it.
Living with Mum for these past two years has made me realise just how much I want to be like her. She inspires me every single day to make the most of things and appreciate the now.
