While researching the year 1927 for another project, I came across celebrities born that year. I was could barely contain myself when I saw a picture on my literary hero, Erma Bombeck.

Now, let’s clarify a couple of things: one, To Kill a Mockingbird is the book that stirred a passion for writing. Two, when I was a teenager, I was a freak when it came to reading books. I read “Valley of the Dolls”, “The Other Side of Midnight” and all sorts of books that I shouldn’t have and…. I read Erma Bombeck.

How could you not with titles like, “The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank” or “If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing In the Pits?”

She took motherhood, housewifery (if that’s a word) and even life in general and gave it the unvarnished beauty with humor and grace that only she could. Many a night I would spend laughing my butt off at her escapades at the grocery store, flu epidemics and room mother duties – oh wait that was my mother’s life.

You see what I mean?

Through Erma’s eyes, I saw adulthood without the rose colored glasses, and saw the martini glass in my future instead.

A while back I wrote about my own adventures as a hockey mom. I’ll publish it here soon, I promise. But I mention this here, because I saw my life at that time through Erma’s eyes and I laughed at myself the whole time.

Thanks Erma, I needed that!  I miss you and can only hope you’re sitting on my shoulder with your own martini glass in hand while I write – urging me on…