"Phenomenal Woman"

If you haven't read this poem by Maya Angelou (and you're a girl :)) you definitely should! If you want to skip over it, the rest of the blog is below--


Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's Me.

-Maya Angelou



So, if you think your mom is the best, most phenomenal mom, you obviously haven't met mine (I'm kidding of course, I could be a little biased in this). But I truly do believe that I have a wonderful woman for a mother. Before I go on to explain this, I must note that one action does not, and can not, qualify my mom for this title. Although actions do show love, I have always and will always love her for who she is, not what she does for me. That being said....

I was not feeling well today. Granted, this was not the worst I've ever felt, by any means... still, I was home and a bit under the weather. I seem to be having migraines more often lately, yuck, which I believe this time was cause by sinus issues. I didn't have any excedrin (which is my crack cocaine of headache medicine, I tell you it's wonderful) so when I talked to my mom I asked her if she could simply bring me some. Since she lives only 2 minutes from my house I didn't figure she would have a problem doing that, and I was right, she didn't. She asked me if I needed anything else, and we finally decided on some soup and drinks. She is very thoughtful.

I didn't expect her to do what she did for me, though. When she finally showed up at my house she had about 15 or more grocery bags with her. Without being told or asked to do so, she went shopping for me. She not only brought excedrin, but she brought cold medicine, a small size of excedrin for my purse, dimetapp, and cough drops to make me feel better. She could have stopped there, but no way! She brought me all kinds of food, somehow knowing that I needed it. I had just cleaned out my fridge and didn't have much, but I hadn't told her that. She brought me soup, crackers, pasta alfredo, manicotti with spaghetti sauce, chicken pot pies, pizza, cheese, break, milk, OJ, sprite, diet coke (yay!), Jello, toilet tissue, paper towels, and biscuits for breakfast. Wow, what a load off of me to not have to go shopping.

On top of all that, she wouldn't let me pay her back. I wanted to, but as I am trying to learn to accept gifts, I didn't put up TOO much of a fight. Anyway, this was just the type of thoughtful, selfless act that I have come to expect from her. This, along with her love, ALWAYS positive attitude, love of learning new things, and caring nature are just a few things that make me so incredibly blessed to have a mom like her. What an amazing example of a woman I have to aspire to be like. As far as being able to cook and keep house like she does, while working, well.... give it time, give it time! :) Love you mom!
AK