The Palisadian-Post presents an homage to Will Rogers’ column, “Will Rogers Says,” with a column by Palisadian Jimmy Dunne—on life in the “greatest town in America.”

‘The Most Precious Word’

Dedicated to all the moms who have passed away that will never, ever be forgotten.

After raking in a wad of cash from my 750 aunts and uncles for my first communion in second grade, I went with my mom to make a deposit at our local bank.

My mom and I were standing at the teller’s window. This guy, with a tie knot that was too big and made his tie too short to cover his belly, asked my mom what her occupation was.

My mom said, “I’m just a housewife.”

It was the just that hit me.

I chimed in, “She’s my mother.”

He gave me that smirky, condescending look where he was really saying, “You get a gold star for figuring that out.”

I didn’t have the confidence or permission to explain what I meant, so I just pulled out my money and put it on the counter.

It’s taken a lot of years to really know what I was trying to tell that man …

It’s taken a lifetime.

You get many dozens of years to experience hundreds of treasured moments that profoundly move you, that inspire you, that reinvent you.

You have dear, cherished, caring friends that know the real you and massage you and fill you up at every harbor of your journey.

Over a lifetime, you live in a number of places that ground you—creating springboards for your possibilities and relationships.

You become part of many groups, clubs and activities that are a comforting blanket to cook and present the unique and evolving you.

Over a lifetime, you tour many places around the world, forever a re-reminder of nature’s banquet of wonder and breadth.

You have many, many fantastic dreams of who you may be and where they may someday carry you.

But you have only one, only one—of maybe the most precious and elegant word in the world.

Mother.

The word from where love and commitment and giving were born.

Jimmy Dunne is modern-day Renaissance Man; a hit songwriter (28 million hit records), screenwriter/ producer of hit television series, award-winning author, an entrepreneur—and a Palisadian “Citizen of the Year.” You can reach him at j@jimmydunne.com.