Happy Mothers’ Day
It was the end of the summer, 1965, and a young teacher lived in an apartment at 3625 S.W. Beach Drive in West Seattle. Fresh from two years teaching in Spain, and an additional year of Seattle fifth graders, she looked forward to another year with students in the Burien neighborhood school Gregory Heights. Her friend Mary, also returning to the US from Spain, needed a place to live in Seattle while she settled. Mary’s brother Bill helped her move from their small Oregon town to the “big city.”
That’s where my parents met — on Beach Drive in West Seattle — in late 1965.
When I was growing up, mom spoke fondly of West Seattle and Alki Point in a way that cemented the magical folklore in my mind. Even though I ended up settling in a different part of town, perhaps my mom’s stories are what seem to pull me back to wander around Alki. Gentle waves washing ashore — foamy water bubbling over a pebble covered beach with shards of seaweed entangled around the larger, round boulders. The scent of salt water mixed with hints of slightly fermented kelp blowing in a light breeze. The film “Sleepless in Seattle” is one of her favorites and I understand why.
In fact, mom inspired more than a love for West Seattle — she heightened sights, sounds, and scents of the wide world, brought to life through countless stories of her adventures teaching in Spain and exploring Europe as a twenty-something. She embraced a keen sense of wanderlust and appetite for adventure, even purchasing a forest green VW Bug before understanding the operation of a manual transmission. Her friend Myron taught her how to drive a stick-shift and it wasn’t long before she started out on her own, heading across Europe as a solo female traveler in the early 1960’s.
Later that same green VW bug would end up with a two year old in the driver seat shifting gears to initiate movement down a long stretch of driveway. I guess I’ve always been ready to go!
Mom brings to life the spirit of faith, discovery, adventure, and trusting in the goodness of people. Always a teacher, her stories inspired me to act on my curiosity of the world in a way that opened me up to the best outcomes of a journey — meaningful connections that enhance living and help develop a better sense of self. Because of her, I travel with an open heart and child-like curiosity. I’m so thankful for these lessons and her encouragement along my own path.
Of course my dear mother embodies so much more than the important lessons associated with travel stories — she is a saint in my mind. And on this Mother’s Day, I recognize and honor all her wonderful gifts to the world that help me become a better person, every day — faith, family, love, humor, kindness and creativity.
Happy Mother’s Day to Maureen Kessi and all the mothers out there — your nurturing, teaching and love make the world a better place.
Love, Matthew
