Sunday, March 16, 2025

My cousin tells me our family loves Mary cause She gets our quirky femininity (WC)

 


(Wendy Cabell, March 16, 2025, feast day of (above) Our Lady of the Life Giving Spring and Saint Jean/John de Brébeuf, Jewish calendar today commemorates Rebuilding of Jerusalem Wall Begun (c. 41) and 3rd day of the "Triple Purim". Image from here.)


My cousin tells me our family loves Mary 

cause She gets our quirky femininity



Well, Blessed Mother, You’ve seen what we do.


We economize, embalm our departed on the kitchen table,

heartened by candleabra’s glow.


We adopt our grandkids, stack Pampers by the Geritol

to give young Moms a break.


We angel up remote ranches and travel trailers,

serve porcupine meatballs, twice baked potatoes.


When forced to sell our restaurants, we negotiate, 

stay on as manager.


You, Mary, Who gave birth in a stable, blessed atop dolman stones*, 

calm requested that water turn wine —  We know You understand. 


We stop time midst any bustle, yes today --

Hand to apron, find Rosary beads…




* Our Blessed Mother’s “quirk” of blessing atop dolman stones is a reference to Our Lady of Le Puy, Our Lady’s first apparition after her passing, which involved a prehistoric dolmen, see here


**Above piece was inspired by layers of family history, as shared by family members over time. Most recently inspired by cousin Maureen, who in response to my question, So why is it, you think, all the women in our family are so devoted to Mary?, replied: She’s the one woman who understands our quirky femininity.


***From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “If They Should Come for Us” by Fatimah Asghar, from Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite Studio time, March 16, 2025.


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