A woman of few words
By Fleur
@Fleura (35065)
United Kingdom
November 9, 2023 3:15am CST
My partner’s mother is a woman of few words. She virtually never expresses an opinion on anything, never reminisces about the past, and almost never comments on anything anyone tells her, other than to respond with something like ‘Oh yes’. When we asked her about her childhood, for example, she just said ‘It was alright’.
So we laughed when we received a small package yesterday. Inside the envelope were the two boxes shown, each containing a small slice of wedding cake. I recognised the handwriting on the envelope as being hers. There was no letter or any sort of explanation with them, not even the briefest note saying ‘Love Mum’ or anything like that.
Last week her sister, my partner’s aunt (obviously) had married her long-term partner. They have already been together more than 20 years and both were previously divorced, so they didn’t have a big ‘do’, just a small affair with one or two brothers and sisters. But they obviously had a wedding cake and decided to do the traditional thing of sending slices to friends and family who were not able to attend.
I can imagine my partner’s mother popping the boxes in the envelope and posting them off, thinking ‘Well they know they got married, and here’s the cake, what more do they need?’
Are you a writer, or do you let objects speak for themselves?
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.
17 people like this
19 responses
@lazydaizee (6732)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 23
Most of the older people that I know enjoy talking about the past and go into great detail about it. Maybe your partner`s mother is a private person and likes to keep her thoughts and opinions to herself. Did you enjoy the cake? I know a couple who had been together for 29 years before they decided to get married. One of them had been married before and was traumatised by the bad experience of the first marriage. They also had a very small wedding with only a few guests because they did not want to make a big fuss about it.
4 people like this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 23
@lazydaizee late 60s I think? She retired a few years ago.
2 people like this
@lazydaizee (6732)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 23
@Fleura It is a pity that your partner`s mother does not say much about the past because it is interesting and a lot has changed since then. Many of the old ways are now gone for good and the only way we can learn from the past is through the people who lived in these times. Some people who are interested in history will take recordings of older people speaking about the past so that they can pass on the information to younger members of the family. Being nosey, how old is this lady ?
2 people like this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
9 Nov 23
I don't know. Not long ago it was their golden wedding celebration. I asked something about how they met. She said it was at a dance. Her husband started to say more (he is much more of a chatterbox) but she gave him a significant look and he quickly stopped!
2 people like this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 23
@JudyEv I know. I mean what can be so terrible it has to be kept hushed up?
It's rare to get him on his own though. Once I did get a chance and I asked him about his own family, and he told me some snippets about his parents and grandparents and produced a few photos (Little One is interested in family history so I'm trying to tease out a bit from her father's side since I have quite a lot about my family). When Mum found out what was going on she looked disapproving even about that and that subject ended!
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
9 Nov 23
She thought the cake would say it all. Pardon my rudeness,is your partner a reticent person ?
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
10 Nov 23
@Fleura People are different from each other.Some are extroverts ,and others are introverts.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 23
@changjiangzhibin89 They certainly are!
2 people like this
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
10 Nov 23
It's almost like she's mastered the art of letting objects do the talking – the cake slices whispering, "Hey, we're here, and a wedding happened!" Haha!
So, are you a writer, weaving tales with words, or do you, like your partner's mother, enjoy letting objects speak volumes?
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Nov 23
I used to write letters. Now it's a rare day if I send even an email. I may send out a few Christmas cards, if I remember, but there's no news included, none TO include usually.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51837)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Nov 23
@Fleura Probably too much effort...
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
9 Nov 23
I have had a love story with words ever since I can remember. I can´t imagine someone who doesn´t have any need to talk. My late husband did not speak a lot but he did tell us what we needed to know. Only he was concise.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
14 Nov 23
@Fleura Me too. But I have met people who will only listen to what they say.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8301)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 23
I guess it depends on whether she had said she was sending some cake or it was unexpected. She might have had loads of cake to send out and just wanted to get the job done. I know, I am just looking for excuses. It is nice to get a little note to make it more personal. I had friends that used to send out generic letters to all their friends, including me. I didn’t like it. I’d have preferred to have received a personalised one. I guess they had too many friends. I stopped writing back, and so did they.
Me, I would have put something humorous in. Something like:
Dear Fleur,
please find enclosed
Two pieces of cake,
It’ll take two seconds to eat
But took ages to make.
Enjoy! 
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8301)
• United Kingdom
13 Nov 23
@Fleura Well in that case she should have left a little note. Maybe she did but forgot to put it in? This can happen too! 
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
14 Nov 23
@Orson_Kart Very true, perhaps she did it all in a bit of a hurry.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14786)
• Ireland
9 Nov 23
@fleura Many folk I deal with give torturous explanations of everything. When my aunt tells you about someone she usually goes back all the way to Adam and Eve to give the context and works forward from there and then forgets the point of it all.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
9 Nov 23
I am writer but I like talking to people too though I am not a chatter box. My mother was a woman of few words.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
13 Nov 23
@Fleura My mother never gave a clear cut reply when we asked her amount anything.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222624)
• United States
9 Nov 23
I'm always very verbose when it comes to explaining something. I hope you have a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222624)
• United States
13 Nov 23
@Fleura I have a bad habit of over explaining because I think I'm not making it clear enough!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
10 Nov 23
Very strange is all that I can say Who sends things without even saying a word!! I like to chat and sometimes I do not give a chance for others to talk
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
9 Nov 23
That's quite funny that you received those without any explanation. Good thing you knew
1 person likes this
