Wallowa County Chieftain
wallowa.com
Mother’s Day
May 6, 2015
A7
Mothers families
Mom’s Day movies,
the subjective list
By Kathleen Ellyn
The Wallowa County Chieftain
Courtesy photo
Roberta and Kenneth Moffit on their wedding day in La Grande in 1947.
In praise of moms
— one in particular
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Mother’s Day? You can pick
a theme: Good Mom (“I Re-
member Mama,” “Stella Dal-
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Mom (“Throw Mamma From
the Train,” “Mommy Dear-
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Wonderful Stepmom/foster
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on Mother’s Day movies:
Moms used to be fetching
young things and fellas came
a’callin.’
Just saying.
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experience in life, we appreci-
ate both the freshness of youth
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we’re up for a challenge.
So, here is my completely
subjective top three movies to
watch on Mother’s Day and
why.
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and the movie, starring Eliz-
abeth Taylor as a child and
Mickey Rooney as a young
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less, the story is timeless.
What makes this a Moth-
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strong female leads who not
only have personal strength,
but lead with a mother’s heart:
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a mother who won’t let her
child be sold short; and Edwi-
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as the mother who understands
the desire to challenge oneself
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won’t spoil it
by revealing it
here.
“Annie”:
Adapted from
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musical inspired
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old Gray comic
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phan Annie,”
the movie ver-
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stars Aileen
Quinn
as
Annie and
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the lazy, scheming orphan
manager. Absentee mothers
(and fathers) are central to
this story and what constitutes
mothering or fathering is ex-
amined throughout. If your
throat doesn’t tighten a few
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got a rock for a heart. It’ll make
you appreciate your parents,
step-parents or adoptive par-
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songs are great and little kids
will love watching this with
you.
“Grey Gardens”: You can
pick from two great versions
of this true story of an excep-
tionally eccentric, reclusive
socialite mother/daughter duo
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And yes, these ladies are re-
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Onassis’ aunt.
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awards and the Edies approved
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They are decidedly odd, the
setting shocking and the moth-
er/daughter dynamics have
gone right ’round the bend.
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ingly admiring of the way
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in casting herself as the bright
young
designer/performer.
And you might or might not be
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Edie’s odd fashions inspired
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It’s a tragic story of a pre-
cipitous fall.
What’s heroic about it is that
the mangled victims of that fall
got back up as best they could
and pretended it all away.
Make yourself happy to be
waaaay more normal than the
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clean the house, even if you
just cleaned it.
Perfect for
Mother’s Day
Beautiful jewelry by
Annie Robinson and Viki Abram
A dazzling assortment of
Chocolove chocolate Bars
T HE B OOKLOFT
Across from the courthouse in Enterprise
107 E. Main • 541.426.3351
er any doubt in my mind that
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always open at www.bookloftoregon.com • bookloft@eoni.com
Wallowa County Chieftain
Jerry was a wonderful person ward to a lot more of those
because of his mom.”
special mother/daughter times
There are thousands of
That sweet disposition is she shares with Roberta. “I’ve
moms in Wallowa County that one of the things that attract- done her hair twice a week for
deserve to be honored, but we ed Roberta’s lifelong love, 32 years and it’s a very spe-
had to pick just one as an ex- .HQQHWK0RI¿WEDFNLQ cial time. I love
ample and lots of folks recom- “She was just easy to get along to get her to
mended this lady.
with,” he recalls.
talk about old
If you don’t recognize the
That never changed.
times; she has
lady in the picture it’s because
“She’s been good to every- the neatest sto-
5REHUWD0DNLQ0RI¿WRI/RV- body,” Kenneth says. “She’s ries of her her-
tine has spent 67 years bent done an awful lot. She’s been itage and marriage
over the books making sure super. She’s been a good mother LQWRWKH0RI¿WV6KH¶VMXVW
WKHYDULRXV0RI¿WEXVLQHVVHQ- and wife, for sure. She has kids one of those people you
deavors run smoothly.
in town who think of her as a want to do everything
Vintage Scrapbooking Treasures
There have been a lot of second mother — they all come for. She’s a beautiful
Specialty Gifts • Books • Gift Certificates
businesses over the last 67 to get the cookies.”
lady.”
108 S. River, Enterprise OR 97828
years, and right now there is
When they celebrate Moth-
2KDQGDVNDQ\0RI¿W
541-426-3693
WKH PXOWLOHYHO 0RI¿W %URWK- HU¶V 'D\ WKLV \HDU WKH 0RI¿W and they’ll tell you: Roberta
Owner: Wendy Stewart
HUV 7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ DQG 0RI¿W clan is hoping it’s just another makes the best potato salad in
wendybeehome@yahoo.com
%URWKHUV &RQVWUXFWLRQ 3UHW- family gathering in a long line the world.
ty much the whole extended that will extend on forever.
family is employed in those
They have reason to hope.
Treat mom to a beautiful
Results
businesses, keeping them all in
“She’s really sharp at 88 and
Wallowa County.
still keeps everything going,”
Oriented
You may recognize Rober- said son Gary, “She still makes
Skin
10-2 Sunday, May 10th
ta’s voice on the phone, though. all the bids for the bus tours.
3HRSOHRIWHQUHPDUNRQLW+HU She’s done that from the begin-
Management
Call 541.432.9821 for more information
phone voice, even at 88, is still ning of time.”
or to make a reservation
clear and sweet.
So, no forced retirement for
You...only Younger
Yes, sweet. And her family Roberta. She had to take it easy
says that’s no put-on — Rober- a few years back when she bat-
Specializing in Anti-Aging Skin Therapy
ta is sweet to the bone.
WOHGFDQFHU%XWVKHFDPHEDFN
Customized Solutions for All Ages
Don’t think this is just what from that strong and closer than
families say — we asked the ever to her family.
Natural Botanical Skin Care Line
daughters-in-law to dish on
During those scary times
their mother-in-law and they family took turns driving her to
Face and Body Waxing Services
both said the same thing.
Walla Walla for treatment one
7HUUL .DOHEDXJK 0RI¿W week of every month and Terri
Gift certificates for Mother’s Day and all Occasions
wife of Roberta’s son Gary: “It recalls that as a time when she
Available at beecrowbee
was so easy to be in the fami- became even closer to her moth-
Marcy Hamilton • Esthetician • 01 Main St Joseph • 541-398-0759
ly, I was so accepted. She’s the er-in-law.
best mom-in-law in the world.
She’s kind and sweet and
thoughtful.”
3DWW\ 1HDO 0RI¿W ZLIH
RIWKHODWH-HUU\0RI¿W³6KH¶V
Sat & Sun May 9th & 10th
been an absolutely wonderful
mother-in-law. She’s loving ...
FREE Gifts for Moms!
I can’t say enough about her.”
Drawings for Prizes!
There you have it. And what
“sweet” means is that she’s al-
Give

Mom
a gift
Beautiful Hanging Baskets
ways been keenly interested in
everything her family does and
that will bloom all season!
Reg. $30 each
needs — but hands-off when it
comes to their personal busi-
ness.
Trees •Shrubs •Berries • Annuals • Perennials
“She never meddles,” Terri
Vegetables • Pottery •Organic Seeds & Supplies
said. “She’s always so sweet
Hardy
Roses, Hanging Baskets & Planters,
and grateful for any time we
Custom
Planting Available, Gift Certificates
Mildred, Irene & Kathy
can give them. That takes a ma-
541-426-3317 • www.alderslopenursery.com
ture individual.”
Serving Wallowa County Since 1968
“I love her dearly, I’ve al-
LCB#7818
Open 7 days a week 11- 4
ZD\V IHOW WKDW ZD\´ VDLG 3DW-
ty. “I think it’s unusual for a
Nursery: 541-426-8733
Nursery: 541-962-0641
Landscaping
daughter-in-law and a moth-
10707 Walton Rd, Island City
541-910-1905
118
Fish
Hatchery
Lane,
Enterprise
er-in-law to get along as good
as we do. She let us make our
See us at both locations open 7 days a week • Mon-Sat 8-6 • Sun 10-4
own mistakes. There was nev-
By Kathleen Ellyn
Where Memories Are Made...
Find Great Gifts for Mom!
Mother's Day Brunch
WALLOWA LAKE LODGE
Mother’s Day Open House
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 11-4
2/$50
Gift Certificates
Available