SlickRick

I've heard this for years and tracked down the words last year

Written by Jimmy Dean
Hope you mothers enjoy it as much as my mom did

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I.O.U.

"You know, most people look through their pocket books or wallets, and way down at the bottom past the credit cards and baby pictures and green stamps, you usually find a little old dog-eared piece of poetry.

"I was cleanin' out my wallet the other day and I ran across a whole bunch of I.O.U.'s, some of 'em 30 years overdue. The funny thing is, all these I.O.U.'s are owed to one person, and I kinda feel that right now might be a pretty good time for an accounting.

"Mom? You listenin'?

"Mom, I owe ya for so many things, a lot of services, like, Night Watchman for instance, for lyin' awake nights, listenin' for coughs, cries, creakin' floorboards, and me comin' in too late. You had the eye of an eagle, the roar of a lion, but ya always had a heart as big as a house.

"I owe ya for services as a short order cook, chef, baker, for makin' sirloin outta hamburger, turkey outta tuna fish and two big old strappin' boys outta leftovers.

"I owe ya for cleanin' services, for the daily scrubbin' of face and ears, all work done by hand, and for the frequent dustin' of a small boy's pants, to try to make sure that he led a spotless life, and for washin' and ironin' no laundry could ever do, and for dryin' the tears of childhood, and for ironin' out the problems of growin' up.

"I owe ya for service as a bodyguard, for protectin' me from the terrors of thunderstorms and nightmares, and too many green apples.

"And Lord knows I owe ya for medical attention, for nursin' me through measles, mumps, bruises, bumps, and spring fever. And let's not forget medical advice either. Important things like 'don't scratch it or it won't get well', 'if ya cross your eyes they're gonna stick like that' and probably most important of all, 'be sure you've got on clean underwear boy in case you're in an accident'.

"And I owe ya for veterinarian services, for feedin' every lost dog that I dragged home at the end of a rope, and for healin' the pains of puppy love.

"And I owe ya for entertainment, entertainment that kept the household goin' through some pretty tough times, for wonderful productions at Christmas, fourth of July and birthdays, and for makin' "make-believe" come true on a very limited budget.

"I owe ya for construction work, for buildin' kites, confidence, hopes and dreams, and somehow ya made 'em all touch the sky, and for cementin' a family together, so it could stand the worst kinds of shocks and blows, and for layin' down a good, strong foundation to build a life on.

"I owe ya for carryin' charges, for carryin' me on your books for the necessities of life that a growin' boy's just gotta have. Things like a pair o' high-top boots with a little pocket on the side for a jack knife,

"And one thing Mom, I will never ever forget when there were only two pieces of apple pie, and three hungry people, I noticed that you were the one who suddenly decided that you really didn't like apple pie in the first place.

"These are just a very few of the things for which payment is long overdue. The person I owe 'em to worked very cheap. She managed by simply doin' without a whole lotta things she needed herself.

"My I.O.U.'s add up to much more than I could ever hope to repay. But you know the nicest thing of it all is that I know she'll mark the entire bill 'paid in full' for just one kiss, and four little words......

"Ma, I love you"
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