a white carnation if mother was dead, a pink carnation if mother was alive.
that's still in practice around here in places, but it's a bit different: i spent last mother's day at Lawrence Welk Village (long story, don't ask) and they gave out carnations to each of the moms present, according to the system you've described. the men didn't get them at all.
oh, and since i'll be gone this weekend, happy mothers day in advance to the moms of AWAD. =)
oh, and tsuwm, i'll probably be doing a bit of fishing this weekend as well =)
