Good morning, Netizens...

There is hardly anyone who recognizes the name Anna Marie Jarvis, who was borne in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which seems a bit of an anomaly since she was the originator of Mothers Day, and yet within her lifetime, having created a day to commemorate all mothers in 1914, also became the person who sought to undo her actions.

By the 1920s, Anna Jarvis had become so soured on the commercialization of Mothers Day, he incorporated herself as the Mothers Day International Association, trademarking the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day". She and her sister Ellsinore spent their family inheritance campaigning against the holiday. They both became embittered because too many people sent their mothers a printed greeting card. As she said, "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A petty sentiment!"

Amen to that!

Anna Jarvis notwithstanding, Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially-successful U.S. occasions of the entire year. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States, ostensibly with your mother. Mothers Day is also one of the peak saturation times according to Qwest Communications, when everyone calls their moms. Dare I mention you might even e-mail her your best wishes? Like this would help the economic recovery, and show your love for Mom?

Hell, how many Americans choose to spend time with their Mothers on Mothers Day, to celebrate the wonderful things she gave to them, and how many instead opt to go buy something, rather than dedicate some personal time to dear old mom?

I cannot complain too loudly here, for my mother and I hardly had what you might call a poster-child relationship due to issues of child abuse which, in retrospect, Mother had little power to change. I suppose if she were alive today, and given the distance between here and there, I would call her, attempting in my own way to heal the rifts of the past. I might even write her a letter, hoping I could find closure for those horrid events, but what is done is done.

However, that being said, if your mother is alive and well today, did you call her? Did you offer to take her someplace special and treat her with the honor, love and tender care she so richly deserves? If you are one of the aforementioned mothers, please accept my humble congratulations on Mothers Day. If it were not for mothers, we wouldn't all be here, now would we?

Dave

---

---