Admittedly this picture is not an exact likeness of my mother… She’s not blonde. Nor armed. Nor so rude. In fact it’s a complete misrepresentation. Hard to justify at all really.
“What lesson from your mother do you still live by today?” I’m asked. *
There were many good lessons. How well I live by them? Probably wrong for me to judge myself. (Or else I’m too chicken to admit the truth.)
Except for one.
There’s one lesson she taught me that I always keep in mind and live by.
It’s this: Voices travel at night.
So don’t go wandering chatting and bantering on your way home in the dark with your mates and not expect the content of your conversation to be seeded in through open windows along the way. Especially if you’re indulging in that special brand of loud “whispering”.
This is also the secret of how mothers know everything. They “sleep” with the window open.
The clip below should really show Junior Giscombe, but Beverley Knight was so good at the Paralympics opening ceremony that you can have her instead.
* The question was asked of members of the Loose Bloggers Consortium. To find out whether they remember or live by anything their mothers told them, scroll down the right hand side of the page and click on their links.
And on the subject of keeping schtum – this made me smile.
Blackwatertown 
Shoulders back, stand up straight. I assume that she meant that both literally and morally; I hope that I have followed that mostly. Thank God that music that you provided has ended, what cacophony!!
You don’t strike me as a slumper, that’s for sure.
Your momma was a wise woman.
And remains the same.
Towards the end of his life, my father went into senile psychosis and was talking in his sleep or when he was dozing. Most of the monolgues were his side of some conversation that had taken place in the past, and I learnt some gory details of some of his past. Even if his Mom had given that advise, it would not have served any purpose. I hope that I don’t talk in my sleep. Imagine how many gory details from my past would spill out!
You’d provide the plots of a series of thrillers.
Alas Paul – some of us have voices that can be heard at any time – through walls and all. Perhaps that advice would have helped me – who knows. But a smart ass is still a smart ass. Or so I’ve been told (on more than one occasion).
I’ve been told that too. Can’t think why. I don’t think I know any. To whom could they have been referring?
Voices travel at any time. Many’s the indiscreet comment voiced to a work colleague that is overheard by just the people you don’t want to hear. Like the boss you’ve just comprehensively slagged off.
I have the solution. Once you realise, simply add this: “As for me, I can’t believe he/she said all that. Wasn’t it outrageous?”
…You never know. Might work.
I bet that Chuck’s Mom told him not to be a smart ass and that he decided not to follow that advise! Were you and did you too?
Excellent post.