Apparently almost everyone’s mother warned them to always wear clean underwear. When our ‘Clean Underwear’ story was published in Heartwarmers ezine, we received a flood of comments. Here is just a sample:

“I learned of your web site via the story in Heartwarmers about your mother's ‘clean underwear’ at the hospital. You have brought me close again with the memory of my own mother who passed away.”

“Hi! I laughed out loud when I read your story about Clean Underwear. I wonder how many of our moms told us that? My mom also added, make sure you don't have any holes in them. I guess I might have said it to my daughter, too. Isn't that a silly thing? Who the heck would care in a tragic situation? But I guess it's one of those things that makes you think about your caring mom and the fact that she wouldn't want you embarrassed about anything. I must check out your web site later. It sounds fascinating. Don't forget to wear clean underwear now!”

“Dear Lillian: I can't tell you how many times I heard, ‘Have you got on clean underwear?’ as I was heading out the door. Of course, I always thought it was nuts when I was young. Only when I was a senior in high school and was in a car accident did I appreciate the fact that I wore clean underwear. Thanks so much for giving me a reason to cry - a cry of love for my mother.”

“Lillian, Just a note to thank you for sharing that story with your readers. It brought back some humorous memories. My wife would ask our daughter and son if they had on clean underwear almost every time they left the house!”

“Hi Lillian: My hat is off to you my dear. We must come from the same gene pool! I, too, will never show fear in a crisis. You can always cry later, that's my motto. Good Job.”

“Dear Lillian: I felt that I had to respond to your story. All of my life growing up this very subject of ‘clean underwear’ has been the advice given by my grandmother. I know too well the feeling of wanting to bring laughter into a situation which could otherwise bring tears. Thank you for sharing your story. It brought back some memories of ‘Gran’ and me in years past.”

“Lillian: How I enjoyed your Heartwarmers contribution. I laughed and I cried. My mother and grandmother both admonished me in the same way. I am a retired R.N., mother and grandmother. I did the same thing in a joking way to my four children.”

“Hi Lillian: Just wanted to thank you for the great Heartwarmers story...I can relate, that is what my mom always said too, and when she fell and broke her shoulder a few years back, that is what we asked her. On her 80th birthday we did a picture video and we included that in the things she ‘taught’ us. We all had a good laugh! Thanks again for the chuckle as I begin this day.”

“I enjoyed your story about your ‘conversation’ with your mother in the E.R. I think it's a mother thing to ask if you're wearing clean underwear. My mother always did, too. I lost my mother two years ago and I still miss her so much! Thank you for the humor. It made my day.”

“I just read your short story and it gave me a chuckle, as I used to hear the same line from my own mom (now deceased for many years). Thank you for sharing.”

“That was very cute :) Thanks for the smile this morning...”

“Lillian, when I read this my eyes nearly popped out of my head. My wife's grandmother and my grandmother both taught this to our mothers who passed it to us and they were from different part of the country. Thanks for sharing.”

“Hello Lillian. I enjoyed your little story about the clean underwear. I am going into the hospital for surgery today and the funny thing is that I had just packed my bag and reading your tale, I remembered that I had not packed my underwear. Ha! Ha! Ha! Thank you for the reminder.”

“I bet you were also glad that you could think fast, on your feet, during a moment of extreme stress. Good for you!”

“It's really a wonderful story. Thank you for this.”

“Just read your story in Heartwarmers and had to drop you a line. Seems every mother has said just those words. I have even heard my daughter use them with my granddaughters. Thanks for the memory. May God cradle you in the palm of His hand!”

And then this from Charles, one of our many male readers:

“Loved your story. Been there, done that.

“My eldest daughter loved to play pranks on me. Once for my birthday she gave me a pair of white shorts decorated with a multitude of various sized red hearts. (You can see this coming.) One morning I was down to my last clean pair of shorts: the hearts.

“During the day I became ill and had to go see the doctor, and of course, he got a good laugh at it and my red face as he probed my bare tummy. Explanations just made it worse. NEVER wore those shorts again.”