I am My Mother

It was evening as I stood in the grocery checkout
with a wad of clipped coupons in my hand
when it struck me, that I was my mother.
As a child I'd sit and watch as she thumbed
through the colorful pages with so many
dotted lines and scratch and sniff spots.
I took scissors and clipped the dots
just like she showed me to do and
grinned in triumph when I saved her
another fifty cents off of a TV dinner.
I don't like paper towels because
you have to throw them away and
throwing them away is a waste she says.
I like to wash the dirty dishes by hand
because they get cleaner that way.
I don't like parting with my money
unless it's something I have to buy
and you can buy all you want as
long as you can find it on sale.
So I buy the paper on Sunday
just for the coupons and the sale papers.
Then I sit and clip them to put in an
envelope, since my collection isn't
big enough to warrant an old worn
shoebox like my mom's.
Later I take my little slips to the store
and watch with satisfaction as the money
slips back into my wallet to spend
on those things I have to have and
I'm glad that I am my mother
and that she taught me to be me.

October 17, 2002