I love you, Mom.
The phrase was said or shown countless times Sunday over eggs Benedict, between bites of prime rib or over the phone.
But a number of area women bucked the traditional brunches and dinners for their own version of Mother’s Day.
In Brighton, mothers, fathers and children wandered through a dirt parking lot on the east side of town, petting puppies, holding baby rabbits and covering their ears as roosters squawked and squabbled.
Mothers were on display at the Brighton chicken swap, an event that happens just a few times a year: sheep with lambs, geese and goslings, Polish chickens with eggs – all for sale or trade. About 100 people wandered among the animals, buying some to breed, for food or for pets.
“Was your mom good to you? Buy her a bunny!” yelled Kelia MacCluskey, 11, of Denver. She was helping Paisely Zerr, also 11, sell four young Flemish giant rabbits for $10 each.
Veronica Ruiz of Hudson walked around with her husband and their three youngsters, 1, 2 and 3.
“We’re just here to look,” Ruiz said in Spanish. “We have 10 horses, chickens … too many animals already.”
In Boulder, women took inspiration from a Civil-War-era mom and kept up a tradition of Mother’s Day activism.
Mothers Acting Up used the occasion for a festive day of celebration and rallying, holding a parade in downtown Boulder. The group’s choice of day honored Julia Ward Howe, who published an anti-war essay on Mother’s Day in 1870.
And in Denver, mothers who don’t have family in town were treated to a special brunch at Strings restaurant on Sunday. The “I Remember Mama” brunch was sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Volunteers of America. The staff and owner of Strings also donated their time to feed 185 mothers who receive Meals on Wheels or live in subsidized housing.
Event donors got to write a special note honoring those in attendance. Pat Serff wrote a passage in memory of “my Mum.”
“Wishing you a very happy day,” he wrote, “and remember, being a mother is one of the most important jobs on this Earth. God bless.”
Staff writer Katy Human can be reached at 303-820-1910 or khuman@denverpost.com.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-247-9948 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
