Mothers have a way of popping up in our daily lives, no matter how old we may be or how long they may be gone.

“A gentleman stands when a lady first enters a room.”

I hear her admonition every time it happens, but would like to tell her that many didn’t get the same message.

“Every woman is not necessarily a lady.”

Mom, you were right about that one.

“Be nice to your sisters.”

But they’re so, you know, sisterly.

“They are still, and will always be, your sisters.”

“Your father will take care of that when he gets home.”

And he did.

“I’m not your maid, pick up after yourself.”

Her daughter-in-law must have read the same instruction manual.

“Don’t bite your fingernails, they’ll get stuck in your appendix.”

Still have no nails, but nails-stuffed appendix apparently fine.

“Be quiet, shut your mouth and eat.”

Never have figured out how I could do the one and still do the other.

“Whatever you do, do it well.”

I’ve tried, but admit to failing to reach that objective on many occasions.

“Anyone can sing (hymns), just open your mouth and start.”

She never said anything about how well one might sing, which sort of conflicts with above.

“When you’re my age, you’ll understand.”

Closing in on it, but still many questions.

“Eat your broccoli.”

Sorry, Mom, that one didn’t stick.

Honor your mother, or her memory, Sunday.

Jim Butler, a Bolton High School alumnus, was an acclaimed writer and editor at the Alexandria Town Talk for 36 years, the last 23 (1977-2003) as editor-in-chief. He led Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina for the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun-Herald in 2005. Butler returned home to Cenla a few years ago, and shares his talents and insight with Rapides Parish Journal readers.

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