Marathon Sons

On the train up to london.

It's packed with people going up to cheer on their friends or loved ones, and secretly hoping they don't drop down dead half way around.

Opposite me are a son and his elderly mother. She is the sort who has packed a ham sandwich and a flask of coffee- just in case- you know the sort of granny we all miss

He is burly, late 30s and giving his excuses why he can't leave his Saturday drinking to come to watch his mother in the lawn bowls final next week.

Sitting there listening to them, I was aware how planned his responses where and helpless she was to him. She had heard it before.

Are we all guilty of planning what we are going to say to loved ones in order to get the result we want.

It was a horrid view into the way a child could come to view their mother.

Her chatter of how excited she was about going to
London, her geraniums, the ham sandwich - turned to dust in front of me.

It was like her day out had become an extension of the home. The son who put up with her, on his terms.

She sat looking out of the window nodding to his comments about his new machine at work

Sit there mum,
don't get excited,
we'll get off in time,
I'm talking .....

Please take time to listen Marathon Son

You may learn something