Love in the
Mum showed no signs of infection, but I still kept a good 20 metres away just in case, writes Kevan Christie
Mother’s Day tomorrow folks and there’s never been a more important time to salute the indefatigability of the women and assorted other parental figures who have shaped our lives in these troubling times.
My own mother was ‘just passing’ the Southfork Mansion in Crossgates where I live last Saturday to drop off a thermal vest after I had complained of feeling the cold at the fitba’. I spotted her ambling through the security gates, having quickly disarmed the guards I employ to keep an eye out for unannounced visitors and the fish van. I should point out she’s Mossad trained.
“Infected! Infected!” I cried as my mother approached the front door, “over 70 and infected…”
At this point I must admit my mum is as yet showing no signs of having coronavirus, dear readers – but advice about self-isolation and social distancing was fresh in my mind from the day job and never being one to overreact, I overreacted. Big time.
Thankfully the neighbours talked me out of putting mum’s picture up on the lampposts, dare she venture into Crossgates in the next three to six months armed to the teeth with cheese scones.
“We won’t make a drama out of a crisis”… the slogan from an old Commercial Union advert has been in my head ever since.
Mum, on the other hand, let’s call her Margaret for argument’s sake, as that’s her name, chuckled heartily as she jammed the vest through the letterbox before shaking her head as she marched back to her car. I waited until Maggie was a good 20 metres away, the advice is two, then ever so slightly opened the door to thank her for the thermals and tell her again that Mother’s Day