This episode marked the first major appearance of Homer's mother Mona. After believing she was dead for many years, Homer is finally reunited with his estranged mother. He is thrilled to see her and invites her into his home, happily making up for lost time and looking back on cherished memories together. But in the end Mona is forced to leave again when a figure from her past comes back to haunt her. After sending her off with a tearful goodbye, Homer continues to stand on the side of the road, still waving long after the bus has crossed the horizon. The image fades and we see that night has fallen, but Homer still sits atop his car, staring into the distance. He continues to stare during the length of the credits as a sombre melody plays in place of the show's theme. It is an usually quiet moment for Homer's character, and a lovely ending to an episode with so much heart.
Sarah is a twenty-something film school graduate and mother-to-be from Arizona. She loves to write and is currently working on a novel that may be finished sometime in the next fifty years. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Final Fantasy, and Supernatural are among her various obsessions.
