Six Word Fridays: Handle

Dipping my fingers into the can
of olives - hating the smell, sickened
a bit by the slimy feel -
I began to make the penguins.
The silly little penguins. Chopping little
carrot feet, and tiny carrot beaks,
I took great care with each
of the silly little penguin apetizers.
Stuffing bellies with cream cheese and
attaching the body parts with toothpicks...
I laughed at myself. I stood
at the counter for an hour
or two...chopping, stuffing, smiling, sighing.
As my fingers played with the
bits of food, my heart worked
to process the reality. My baby
boy had graduated and we were
having a party. And I was
making silly penguins. Hoping he'd know
that each penguin meant love. Pride.
Knowing that {at least} he'd laugh.

I stood, processing....trying to get
a handle on the fact that
nothing I will ever give, or
have ever given...not the all
nighters, the meals, the laundry or
the worry...not the game watching,
the long talks or the hand holding....
no, nothing - not even penguin making -
will ever compare to all I've
received because he calls me mom.

Link up here to share your six words...
and I'm sharing mine at Jade's
with my Bigger Picture friends.