‘Mamu’ stems from the word Grandma. Mispronounced by my brother at a young age, Grandma became Grandmu then morphed into Mamu. It is the name of my father’s mother. She is Mamu, no questions about it; the name is used by her six children, and has been taken over by the newest grandkids- my Uncle Mike’s 3 young ones who live in Illinois. I think the name gives Mamu some kick and spice. She’s not just Grandma, Grammy, Nana etc, she is Mamu.
Since my birth until age 10, Mamu was our babysitter. She came to our home every morning and tended to us after our parents left for work. Mamu cooked, cleaned, walked us to the park, and drove us to school and practice. When the first parent got home she drove off in her Saturn back to Millburn until the next day.
In 2007 Mamu moved two hours away from us. Now she lives in Brigantine, a beach town near Atlantic City, in the same condo complex as my aunt and uncle. When we first saw the place off Brigantine Ave we laughed because it was set up the same as her other apartment; couch, chair, bed—all where they were before, just in a new setting. Plus, despite the 3 hour travel time, the place smelled exactly the same as her other apartment.
Since my birth until age 10, Mamu was our babysitter. She came to our home every morning and tended to us after our parents left for work. Mamu cooked, cleaned, walked us to the park, and drove us to school and practice. When the first parent got home she drove off in her Saturn back to Millburn until the next day.
In 2007 Mamu moved two hours away from us. Now she lives in Brigantine, a beach town near Atlantic City, in the same condo complex as my aunt and uncle. When we first saw the place off Brigantine Ave we laughed because it was set up the same as her other apartment; couch, chair, bed—all where they were before, just in a new setting. Plus, despite the 3 hour travel time, the place smelled exactly the same as her other apartment.
I went to visit Mamu in May, spontaneously deciding to go down on a Wednesday. I left pretty early and got down around 11. Mamu waved out the window as I parked the car. I gave her a hug, reminding me how much the 85 year old has been shrinking over the past 10 years. She patted me on the back as she always does during hugs, and I was ready to settle in. I plopped on the 20 year old couch and began filling Mamu in on my family’s happenings.
Talking to Mamu always makes me feel like an international executive of sorts; my life sounds so busy and important to her. I poured a glass of 2%milk and toasted an English muffin while we chatted. Mamu ventured out to the porch to read the paper and “watch the world go by.” I spread some apricot marmalade on my muffin and walked to the porch to join her.
I was right near Atlantic City and about a block from the beach but there was no need to go anywhere. I was tremendously excited to eat my English muffin topped with old-lady jam and just hang out. I was with one my favorite people in the world and totally relaxed.
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