The Country Place 1990

“You should take her there,” someone said
“..with white tablecloths, classic…”
How could something in the mall be classy, I thought
But off we went, a Mother’s Day trip across Midtown Atlanta
Excepted because of reservations,
there were appropriate brunch accommodations…
Mimosas, Bloody Marys (her favorite) and soft rolled breads.
Waiters in khaki pants, bright white shirts
And those irritating colorful paisley ties that were in back then.
In the large dining room:
Plenty of guys with their moms
Plenty of libations
Water with lemon on every table
A couple of small flowers in bright white vases
The place to be seen.
I hardly knew a person, but every head seemed to smile
As we passed
Not a Country Place at all
But a city space with traces of intrigue
This is my mother, I wanted to say.
I’ve always been proud of her style
Her excitement that I was in the city she used to call home
When she first left home in the 60s.
In 1990 I was new to Oz
And didn’t know many people at all
I was proud anyway
Glad to show her off
Happy to let her know things were fine
She, relieved to know that I had taken some bit of learning
Turning it into something good
And the sky was blue
That day, and the days since
Not a Country Place at all
But an endless dining room of possibility!
I never revisited it, and it closed a couple years later
But it, and that beautiful perfect day
I had her all to myself, for the showing, for the talking
For the dreaming…
That day with just me and my Mom
Will exist in my memory forever.

I love you Mom.
Ray 2009