Julia was a much respected individual among her neighbors. Her home was always spotless and her garden was so stunning, it stopped people in their tracks. She was one of those people who would greet newcomers with freshly baked cookies and a pie.
Her reputation meant the world to her, and she was loved by everyone, although there was some hint of rivalry between her and her neighbor Nancy. But it wasn’t a form of rivalry that would cause any frauds or misunderstanding. On the contrary, it pushed both of them to become even better versions of themselves.
One day, as Julia was tending to her garden, Nancy stopped by.
Nancy slipped in a sly remark about Julia’s garden, but Julia wasn’t in the mood to answer back. This made Nancy wonder if everything was alright, and that’s when Julia opened up about the difficult time her family was going through.
“Nancy, my mom and dad divorced and mom will stay at my place for some time. You know, until she decides what to do next,” Julia explained.
“Oh, Julia, you are a wonderful person, your mom is lucky to have you,” Nancy replied. And as the two chatted, the deep growl of a Harley’s engine disturbed them. “What is going on, who could that be?” Nancy asked.
The two neighbors watched as the Harley pulled over right in front of them.
“Hey, Julia,” a woman dressed in a leather jacket said.
“Mom!?” Julia was shocked. “What’s this? Why on Earth are you on a motorcycle?”
But before her mom, Rachel, could answer, Julia demanded that she get inside the house.
At that moment, Julia was fuming. She felt that her reputation was being ruined.
“Oh, mom, what will my neighbors say? That my 63-year-old divorced mom became a biker all of a sudden? Please get rid of that Harley.”
Rachel’s face saddened.
“You know what Julia?” she said. “I’ve spent my entire life pleasing everyone around me and trying to present myself as the perfect housewife, the perfect mother, the perfect wife… I’ve never had time for myself and for what made me happy. And now… Now I’m finally free.”
“You see, your father found someone new, and after the divorce I felt like I had no purpose in life, because until that very moment, my purpose was to please him and everyone around me.”
Julia understood that her mother was hurt.
That motorcycle was her way to experience freedom after spending all her life doing only what others believed to be right.
“Mom, I am sorry,” Julia said. “I shouldn’t have acted like that. I want you to know that I’m not embarrassed by your clothes, your presence, or your Harley.”
Rachel finally started living on her own terms. And it wasn’t only liberating for her, but for Julia too. She somehow didn’t feel the urge to be that perfect neighbor everyone admired any longer. She understood that it’s perfectly fine for the garden not to look perfect all the time, and that she could take some time for herself, just like her mom.
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