Here’s the old warhorse herself, Mrs. Stewart, in surprisingly mellow mood, expressing her Mothering Sunday wishes for her son, Jonty.
To Jonty, aged 4
I wish you joy, my golden child, laughter and happiness and length of days.
I wish you sunshine, in skies as blue as your eyes. Snow to play in, wind to fly kites, mud and grass and cold salt sea.
I wish you someone at your side to share them all.
To Jonty, aged 14
I wish you strength to fight whatever ails you, my boy who once laughed so readily.
I wish you courage to share it; with someone, if not with us.
I wish you the return of your smile.
To Jonty, aged 24
I wish you a sense of direction, my lad, a new beginning.
I wish you a companion to share the journey, a hand at your elbow and a smile at your side.
I wish you someone for whom you are the whole world, but who’d never make you aware of the fact.
To Jonty, aged 34
What do I have left to wish you?
I wish you health and length of days, of course, a warm hearth and a table set with food.
But you have all that any man could desire, in the person who sits in the chair beside yours.
March 10, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Aww, what an understanding mum. That’s lovely. Thanks for sharing this touching piece. (But…..where’s the old dragon? Lol)
March 10, 2013 at 1:53 pm
She’s just out stoking herself up with coal. *g*
Thanks, toots. I do enjoy writing her.
March 10, 2013 at 2:11 pm
wait what old dragon?
March 10, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Mrs. S. She gets referred to as a dragon in at least one of the books.
March 10, 2013 at 5:16 pm
oh dear, time for a reread. thanks Charlie.
March 10, 2013 at 2:12 pm
But would she have said that to his face? 🙂
March 10, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Oh yes. If he’d let her (which he wouldn’t at 14, but all the other ages would be okay I think)
March 10, 2013 at 3:04 pm
*sniffles*
March 10, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Indeed. 😦
March 10, 2013 at 6:21 pm
So wonderful to hear Mrs. “S” speak her thoughts again. She knew Jonty better than anyone though she would have never told him so. Loved it.
March 10, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Thank you. I suspect she told Jonty she loved him much more than mothers of the time/her status did. I hope so, anyway…
March 10, 2013 at 9:46 pm
Lovely!
March 11, 2013 at 8:30 am
Thanks, toots.
March 11, 2013 at 1:30 am
Charlie, you just made me cry.
March 11, 2013 at 8:31 am
Sorry, love. I got a bit choked up myself, writing it!