song for theme #38: Valuing Family

“Jean, My Mother in Law” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Mother in Law” by Allen Toussaint / Ernie K Doe

The best people I know¹

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

She’s been good to me so

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

Many times she’d speak her mind  

Telling me I’m doing fine

I’m gonna miss her so

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

She was married to William Moore

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

Berkeley Law School lawyer galore

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

He died with legal shoes to fill   

She did it with considerable skill

For awhile she truly was a

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

She had old country roots Bonnie Jean

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

She loved Scotland something mean

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

Robert the Bru----ce was she felt  

Superman dressed in a kilt      

A Highland Games homecoming queen my

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Many nights I watched Bonnie Jean

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

Sipping scotch, her eyes had a gleam

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

She said at age sixty-one   

She felt like she was twenty and looking for fun

And wat----ch out my Son

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

My marriage to Jean’s daughter didn’t last

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

A family life consigned to the past

Mother in Law, Mother in Law,

This le----ft me alone   

I had to find a new home  

No longer was Bonnie Jean my

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Mother in Law, Mother in Law

Jean’s daughters had kids of their own

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law,

Their laughter filled her home

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law,

The joys of child---hood loomed large

Her favorite toy parked in the garage  

Bonnie Jean had it all

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law,

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law

Her life ended with a final treat

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law,

A new baby she got to meet

Grandma in Law, Grandma in Law,

Grandson Casey and Jen brought Annie  

To smi----le for their granny  

She was something else

GreatGrandma in Law, GreatGrandma in Law

GreatGrandma in Law, GreatGrandma in Law

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS     (this song is part of the author’s personal story)

1—This autobiographical song was sung by the author at a 2013 memorial wake honoring his long-time mother in law.

Comment: this theme has value as emotional armor: family shelters, gives comfort, lessening fear, suffering.