Aunt Mame is on PBS tonight...am I friggin psychic here or what? How is it that I begin to tell a story of my redheaded Aunt who is most definitely a "Mame" and suddenly PBS has the movie on its Saturday night listing?
Brian is excited to see it, now that he spent some serious time (but not enough) this summer with the legend that is my father's sister, Colleen. Another Aunt of mine (who is really my mother's cousin) Wynn (Bernie) who lives in the Opera Plaza in San Francisco is most definitely a "Mame" in my life too. I do not see either "Mame" enough, and Wynn is one of my biggest fans. She often tells me I am very much like my Irish grandmother, Winifred, which explains volumes about my relationship with my own mother.
One of the most difficult issues I have with this time in my life is that I wanted to be at a place career-wise where I could be a Mame to my son. My dream was to be with a man, very much like Forest Tucker in the movie, sharing this great big house where we entertained friends (lots of great cooking and wine and fun) and Brian enjoyed this rich life of wonderful experiences. I wanted to be able to take Brian traveling about the world, and bring a friend of his along too.
My girlfriend KB, well traveled and a friend of 9 years (yes dear - it has been 9 great years) thinks that I have done an amazing job of exposing Brian to the world at large and teaching him that having a nut for a mom is a great fun thing. I can say that Brian loves it when I get mad (not at him because I can talk to him) when I see some injustice or stupidity, and say, "Brian honey, I am about to get real pissed off here, hang on". He smiles and says "OK mom" and sits back and watches me go. Once I drug a woman by her pigtail out of my home as she tried to enter to take on the kids inside that she thought were picking on her monsterous bullying son.
I was ready to beat the living hell out of her for attempting to take on and scare children that were in my house, since she was too busy getting high and drunk in her friend's house and was clueless asto what really came down between the kids. Now mind you, I am not a violent person, but be a raging adult in the wrong trying to take on some kids and I will be in your face so fast a clock can't time me fast enough.
People can be so stupid and childish. The funny part about the story is that the kids still think the woman is a nut case, so rather than make a point, she now appears to the kids as that insane lady, like the one all of us made fun of as kids growing up. The kids in my home do understand that if they do something wrong, I am the first to make them apologise, and they also understand that they are safe here. I just wish my place was a lot bigger with land for lots of toys.
And there would be that guy of mine, either starting up dirt bikes with the boys, or cooking over the grill for everyone - or both. I'd be laughing at his wicked sense of humor, and his kindness would refill by soul with peace. This is the Mame life I have been dreaming of for 20 years.
("Auntie Mame is a froth of whipped cream and champagne and daydreams and Nuit de Noel perfume. She's not mortal at all." Patrick Dennis)
("Yes! Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!" Mame)
I am still working on creating the life...trust me...and you will read about it here.
Until next time-
C
