Sunday Scribblings-2 Cents for Mom

My mama once told me, "If you can't say anything kind to someone or about someone, just don't say anything at all".  With these powerful words etched deeply in my mind for today and always, here are "My 2 cents" for all their worth....In today's world two little brown pennies will buy nothing not even gum from the gum machine however try to purchase comfort for a sad friend or relative with a smile, hug, or kind word and you've purchased them a day worth enjoying.  Now that's value.....and getting the most out of your two cents...  However in times of need words need to be paired with action and so "the nagging daughter"(me) two weeks ago went into action and started using her 2 cents to motivate her mom into getting her air conditioner replaced.  This was not an easy task.  Southern CA had experienced triple digit weather for many days.  This had not happened since 1954.  At first, no one seemed to notice that the elderly and poor of our state were in need.  Most of us had air conditioning and understood that heat exhaustion and heat stroke kills.  Yet the elderly who even at 80 F feel cold, who grew up without air, set in their ways, poor, or living alone and isolated began to die in their homes.  Each summer "the nagging daughter" (me) begins to call or visit her mom to keep watch over the temp in her home.  It was always to hot in my mom's home but this day the thermometer read 120 F.  It was time to get her help.  Even as I listened to my mom's words, "I'll be fine".  I became deaf to all the no... not needed for me complaints.....and made the call to get the air fixed.  It took three calls and much pleading to get someone to take the job because many needed help.  It took one week to get someone to her home.  Now all is right again and this was a time when " 2 cents for mom" may have saved her life.  Sadly over 160 heat related deaths have now been reported in our state all could have been avoided if someone had noticed...   

Comments

[Talina]

I agree... good for you for taking a stand and doing what is needed to help another. :-)

[diana]

OH MY GOSH... 120 in her house... yikes...
so glad you persisted... I am sure your adrenaline waw on overtime during all of that heat ! You are right... your 2 cents was
priceless. Lucky mom... lucky daughter.

[bonnie]

Good for you for persisting with your mom. There comes that time when the mother-child relationship reverses, and you go from being the child being taken care of, to the child who has to take care of the mother. It is a sad life transition, but ultimately has to happen. I am glad that your mother is well cared for. It is not nagging, it is just that mothers can be very stubborn!

[Paris Parfait]

I'm so glad you fought for your mom to be comfortable and safe. It's outrageous that you had to go through all that just to make sure she had proper air-conditioning. You "two cents" is priceless, particularly in this instance! Hope your mom is doing fine now.

[Leslie]

Good for you, MJ! I think you did the right thing. . . if only more people were advocates like you! And geez, 160 deaths! That is tremendously sad. :(