A Memoir of Pain, Love, and Liberation. By Ada Poe
About the Title
I was in the kitchen late one afternoon. Tired as hell. Making chili. Which is a major production for me. But well worth it because it’s the best chili this side of the Pecos. At the time, my daughter, Barbara, was ostensibly helping me, but instead was much better at ignoring my sound life advice. My kids are all independent souls and that’s a double-edged sword. I wanted and still want them to be free spirits. Don’t be afraid to think, question authority, learn from your mistakes, but also recognize good advice. Know when Solomon offers wisdom. This day, Barbara was missing the point. By a country mile. Frustrated, she went on the offensive. She knows how to push my buttons and, of course, the kid hit my launch button.
You know, young lady,
I had no one to call Mama.
Silence. Barbara had nothing to say, which happens about once a decade. In that long hush, the truth hit me, and suddenly there were tears rolling down my face. There it was, the title, fully formed.
At that moment, silence was golden.