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Oracle, seer, mom Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Julie Scull might still be touring with the U.S. Army Band if it weren't for the direction provided by her mom, Carolyn Alexander. Scull is one of dozens of Rogue Valley children who've realized over the years that yes, indeed, Mama was right. These sons and daughters have different experiences, but essentially the same thing to say about their mothers: 'She was right' By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune If not for her mother, Julie Scull might never have become a teacher, never married, never settled down to raise a son of her own. Instead, the 31-year-old Medford woman might still be touring with the U.S. Army Band. But Scull's mom, Carolyn Alexander, nixed that notion years ago, way back when Scull was a high school senior who thought she'd postpone college for the musical life. "I threw a fit," says Alexander, 56, an eighth-grade teacher at Applegate School. "Imagine my 4.0 daughter joining the Army band." At the time, Scull resented the maternal intrusion. "But in the back of my mind, I was listening," she says. You see, Scull says, Ma was right about the band. And she was right again last year, when the family was rocked by Alexander's diagnosis of stage-four breast cancer. "She told me that we can never know if we will have 20 more years or even one more minute," says Scull. "She reminded me that we do have this moment, and we also have the hope of heaven." For now, Alexander's cancer remains in remission. But Scull is among dozens of Rogue Valley sons and daughters eager to admit that their mothers were right - about everything from tattoos to career paths. In honor of Mother's Day, we're offering readers' recollections of exactly when mother knew best: Mother was a great imparter of wisdom to all of us kids. She was a best friend to each of us; we could go to her with the most difficult situation and she would usually boil it down to its basic humanness. When I could become too consumed with my day-to-day and week-to-week personal business, I would eventually find myself in an uncomfortably warm pot of stew with my too-long-overlooked spouse. Eventually, I would have to consult the Oracle of Ultimate Messes - Mom. The load of the dark situation that seemed to have no positive resolution could be lifted by the most simple of questions: "Have you told her that you love her?" I answer the question each day, with love, just like Mom would. - Mike Marble, Medford When I was younger and making the last payment on my car, I was so happy and planning what I would do with all this extra money now that I didn't have a car payment. My mom tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Trust me, something will come up and take that extra money away." She was right. It seems when you think you're getting ahead, something else goes wrong. I learned from this little insight and I will pass it on to my daughter when it comes time. - Rooney Riggs, Central Point No doubt my mom, the seer, knows as much as Johnny Carson's "Carnac the Magnificent." I went off to college in 1963 to pursue studies to be an English teacher and soon became disillusioned with my English literature class. I called my mom and told her I wanted to switch my major to elementary education. She said, "Don't be ridiculous. You don't even like little kids and only babysat once in your life." The following year, I called and told her I wanted to switch my major to social work. She said, "How will you manage that? You cry even when you walk in the nursing home to see your grandfather." I stayed the course and just retired last year from a 23-year career of teaching English at Phoenix High School. Mama knew best. - Judy Entinger, Medford My mother, Susan Guider, always says, "A mother knows what's best for her kids." Although I didn't want to listen to her all the time, she always ended up being right about everything. The memory that sticks out in my head and that I think about everyday is, she said, "You'll regret it your whole life if you drop out at six months before graduation." I pretty much gave up on school for two months, until I realized how upset my parents were. So I decided to go to night school and work really hard to walk in graduation this year - and I will do it with dignity. My mom is the perfect mom in the world and I want to thank her and my dad for pushing me and being there for me. I love you both! - Jaime Guider, Medford I graduated from high school with honors in 1938 after the Depression. I had a job waiting for me with a company that had a great training program and was to receive $25 a week salary. My mother thought it was quite high for starters, but said that that would make my room and board $12 a week. I was shocked as my parents didn't need my money. My dad was quite successful, but you didn't argue. I was married in November 1941 to a naval officer, and the day before my wedding, my mother gave me a bank book with all my board money intact. She told me the secret of a happy marriage like they had was due to each having a secret stash of money. She was right. I was able to get things we really needed without debating it. My mom was wonderful. - Maye Bewkes, Medford While attending college in St. Petersburg, Florida, my friends and I got tattoos on the beach quite by impulse. When I called home to casually mention it to my parents, my father laughed so hard he could not speak to me. My mother, on the other hand, simply said, "I hate to see young people do things to their bodies that they will regret later." She was right. Having a tattoo was great fun for a while, and I wore it proudly in my early 20s. Today, I would give anything to have it removed. I think of her words often when I come across that forgotten tattoo on my ankle in the bathtub. Her words were ringing in my head as I tried desperately to hide my tattoo on my wedding day. - Erin Carpenter, Grants Pass This is what my mother used to tell me when I was being a rebellious teenager: "Just wait until you grow up and have children of your own. Then you will find out what it's like to be a mom." She was right. - Annette Karlas, Central Point Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.