Once my 92 year-old Mom makes her mind up about something, watch out. She will not back down come hell or high water.
This will come as a no surprise to regular readers who followed the saga of the hunt for the perfect pair of purple pants. Ones that wouldn’t make her look too old ladyish or frumpy. While the chitchat around these elusive delights eventually died down, her steadfast desire did not. She eventually scored a pair a year later that had just the right amount of pizzazz. And purple.
Art And Other Fitbits at 92
A few weeks back Mom spied something clipped to the bottom of my sister’s shirt.
A zip fitbit.
Boom. She wanted to know all about it.
My sister launched into a brief explanation about how the zip is one of the myriad of fitbit products that will synch to your preferred device and track your physical activity.
“How marvelous. I must get one. It’ll keep me moving.”
Not to worry that her doc is trying to get Mom to do just the opposite. Slow down. Rest for two hours every day. It’s been really hot in our part of the world lately and Mom is feeling more tired than usual.
No matter. This gal wanted a fitbit. She finally tracked one down at her local drugstore and clamped it to the bottom of her t-shirt.
Excellent.
Except that it wasn’t.
It refused to work. Or so she says. My sister and I suspect she didn’t do her homework and messed up the installation, but no matter. It doesn’t work.
Her faulty zip slipped from my mind. Until we were out having tea the other day and Mom launched into a story about her latest visit with the eye doc.
“His staff is SO busy. Running about, putting in drops, moving patients in and out of the rabbit warren of rooms. I got exhausted just watching them. And so I simply had to ask the busiest…”
She paused. For effect. And to ensure I was listening.
“Ask the busiest person what, Mom?”
“Have you ever considered wearing … a tidbit?”
No. Surely I misheard.
“The girl looked at me most strangely. She’d never even heard of a tidbit. So I told her all about them and everyone else stopped to listen. I’ll bet they all rush out and get one.”
Sweet Jesus. I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall in that practise after Mom left.
Our conversation moved on to her latest works of art. Mom is an artist. Armed with a BA and MA in Art History, she was a professor in the Fine Arts department at the University of British Columbia for seven years and is a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists.
“I’ve finished the Collection of Hats. I finally managed to bring the striped one to life.”
Thank god. I’d grown beyond tired of hearing about the striped number.
It caused her lots of grief. During the recent hot weather spell her studio was an oven. It was impossible to paint past 9:00 AM. However, Mom would not quit until she brought that damn hat to life. She just got up a few hours earlier each morning. Hello 5:00 AM.
We moved on to the topic of her next piece. A requested work of art for a Silent Auction fundraiser. With all of the bidders owning summer homes on the same idyllic, remote and rustic west coast island, Mom chose to go colorful and folkarty. “The Buoys of Summer” is a combo of boys on bikes and a cluster of buoys stashed for the winter alongside the dusty shoreline road.
The rattletrap truck wasn’t quite right. Could I help? Bless her. She refuses to admit I don’t possess one tenth of her natural talent.
But the truck did look odd. A tad directionless. And the bikers needed helmets, the woodpile needed tweaking and the upside down boat rather resembled a turtle.
“Perhaps add a headlight or two to the truck, Mom?”
She swatted away that idea with a flap of her wrist.
“No, the damn pickup won’t take anymore paint. I’ve reworked it too many times.”
She stood back and stared at it with a critical eye.
“Let’s move it to the dining room where it’s cooler and I can work on it with an acrylic pen.”
Acrylic what? She was talking Italian to me; I was no further ahead. However there’s no point enlightening her. Once she’s in painting mode her focus is singular.
“Maybe I can extend the hood somewhat … let’s try that…”
A good hour later I left her still tweaking away.
Thank you, Mom. For agreeing to let me continue to share fitbits of your life in both words and pictures. You are indeed a marvel.
Enough about art and other fitbits at 92. I’m curious about you. Are you stubborn. Or pliable? Do you own a tidbit fitbit or something similar? Does it nudge you to get more fitness in each day? Or are you a slug? Can you draw or paint? Or are you more like me and blessed with the ability to create stiff little stick figures that resemble carrots more than people? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
27 Responses
Another stellar entry from Kelly and Mom! I tried the tidbit last year for a month. It creeped me out and pissed me off. After 30 torturous days of NOT meeting my 10,000 daily steps–and wondering why I didn’t feel motivated to step more, only annoyed–I happily returned it and got my $100 back.
My grandma and great aunt were lovely painters and I treasure some of the art they left behind. Meanwhile, I create with words. Yes, that’s it!
Whoa – you got your money back? That’s impressive, Katy. I have a fitbit flex which I quite enjoy. Am in mini competitions along the lines of Who can get to 10,000 steps first with my sister and her twin daughters. That’s fun. Except when I find myself 4255 steps behind everyone at the end of the day … And yet again you and I have something in common. “Create with words.”
Your mom sounds adorable! Her work itWith my mother, it is quilting and she still can’t understand how her only girl child did not receive the gene of sewing! I once tried to tie the strings back on a chair cushion, you know the ones that keep them tied to the chair. By the time I got finished, I had 9 bandaids on my fingers!!!! On another note that story link I sent you about the lawnmower the other day I sent it to Huffington Post as well and they published it today! My husband is thrilled with a pic of him scrubbing my kitchen floors on a magazine that gets so much attention haha!
Oh Rena, I am smiling here. I, too, did not get that sewing gene. Huge congrats on your post being HuffPosted. Wonderfu! It was a really great piece.
I use the Fitbit as a pedometer of sorts, and because I’m competitive with myself and like to keep score. It is a bit tricky to set up, though.
I cannot draw or paint, although I made a masterpiece at one of those Paint Your Own parties. The masterpiece is tucked away in the basement now. Want it?
My fitbit of choice is the flex. It is reminding me right now that I haven’t even done 2000 steps yet today. Must get out and build up my numbers. As for your masterpiece? Sure. Fire it at me. I’d love something of yours before you become famous, Dana! It’ll be worth a fortune one day!
The new phones Hubby and I bought have a health app installed. Among other things, it has the ability to count steps. On days I don’t go to the gym I stick the phone in my pocket and try to get as many steps as I can in. Hubby’s really taken it it, though. He’s walking a lot more, trying to get to the magic number every day. That can’t be a bad thing
Oh now that is very cool, Kathy. Your phones have it already built in. And yes, that can’t be a bad thing that your husband is walking more! I have a fitbit Flex and it’s calling me right now to get out and walk the dog. Off to do that.
During my recent visit to Florida, my mom decided she wanted/needed a Fitbit (or tidbit, whatever you want to call it). Now I’m a little nervous that she is going to out-step me. I see that your mom has found another lovely pair of purple pants. She really is “on trend”. I keep seeing that the hottest trend is brightly patterned yoga type pants. What a gal!!!
Your mom has a tidbit! Love that, Mo. These moms of ours are quite something. As for my mom’s purple pants I thought they were purple too but little Ms. Painter assured me they are more blue than purple …
I love the stories about your mom. She sounds like the most interesting lady, and I love that she has a tidbit! I got one for my husband last year, but he never uses it, so I will probably appropriate it from him. Love your mom’s paintings! I too have not an ounce of artistic ability!
You should appropriate it, Lana! I’ve got a fitbit flex that I wear daily. It usually gets me moving. Today I’m a bit behind on the numbers front (haven’t even hit 2000 yet) but I’m soon out the door to walk Poppy. It makes me walk further actually. The flex, not Poppy.
Oh Kelly, I do love your Mum, and the warm and witty way you write about her ! I am one of those people who work in a crazy busy eye doctors office, and I often have people ask me if I wear a pedometer ( not a fancy tidbit !). I did purchase a simple pedometer and discovered that I walk a good 4 miles a day ! As far as artistic talent goes , my stick people are terrible. I am in awe of your Mum’s talent, and LOVE the striped hat !
Jane, I am not surprised you are walking over 4 miles a day at work. That really is amazing though. Wow. And yes, isn’t that striped hat lovely? She did struggle with it however I think she managed to pull it off in the end. You and I should look into one of those wine/painting nights. That might be a field trip option. We could paint stick figures together.
Oh that was hysterical. It could have been MUCH worse mispronunciation though. I would consider myself lucky and then come up with another gadget to get her excited about.
Oh so very true on the mispronunciation front, Kerri. She called me this morning and is all fired up about her next painting so I think I’m off the hook for a while. Off to walk my dog and ramp up some numbers on my fitbit flex. Have a great day.
I want to be your Mom when I grow up- cool pants, awesome kicks, painting career, funny, caring daughter and a tidbit clipped to my shirt. Absolutely inspiring!!
Just back from having lunch with the old gal. And yes, she’s really quite something.
Fitbit attached to my waistband as I type. Not that typing will help my step count. I’m amazed at how many things I do, like weaving and spinning, that don’t register as steps. I think they should. As for tweaking, it’s good I’m a weaver. Once it’s done, it’s done. Otherwise, I would never know when to leave well enough alone. And, love that Buoys of Summer. Is your mom familiar with the Navajo pictorial weavings? That truck made me think of them. Tell her I keep the card you sent me with her painting on the front right next to my writing desk.
Oh isn’t that just so annoying, Linda? I understand. I sit here and type and my tidbit doesn’t register anything. I am finding it’s best if I get the dog walk in first thing and wear my fitbit while doing it. That way I get some steps in. My Mom is probably aware of the Navajo pictorial weavings but I’ll ask her. And she’ll love that you keep the card next to your writing desk! I had lunch with her today and am happy to report she’s in good form.
I had a pedometer for a while, but the battery ran out long before mine did. I had good intentions, but I don’t think I set it up properly. So, I feel ya, Ms. Tidbit.
I can draw. I think I can draw. I do draw. I’m even putting some sketches on the blog lately.
And I’m pliably stubborn, I think.
Awesome post, Kel.
Piably stubborn. Love that. I am going to steal it in fact.
She sounds delightful!!! I aspire to be like her!! 🙂
Thanks, Roshni. she is quite something, I must say. Most days she’s busier than me.
I have now read this several times, and I’m finally here to comment! I remembered that I had not, when I was telling my husband about your mother’s tidbit! I so wish that I had just a tenth of the energy she does! Her art work is amazing – and the photo with her great-grandchild is truly priceless. Did she add the colored dots to her shoes … they match the paint in her painting!
My step counter is a Garmin (a more difficult name to tweak!) – and it has proven that writing is a very sedentary sport!!
Hi Susan, huge apologies for not answering this lovely comment sooner. Mom’s shoes are one of several that Keds has created with a local company called Party Skirts. We know the PS folk and my sister introduced Mom to the Keds line. There are several different patterns and because she’s Mom (and the shoes are comfy) she has several pairs! And isn’t that photo of her with G adorable? I love it. As for the sedentary land of writing – I couldn’t agree more. I try and take my tidbit out for a walk every morning. However, last week’s wedding week was a challenge and this current heat wave isn’t really conducive. Yikes!