Reply #9: She was very strong. [View All]

[maveric]

Her Mom was a schizophrenic as was my little brother, My Dad, God love him, was Bi-polar and an alcoholic. We all had quick tempers being Irish and Sicilian and Ma might as well had worn a striped referee shirt. When the shit hit the fan, which it did regularly, she smoothed everything out.

Ma was one of the first "working Moms", in our 50's-60's, baby boomer neighborhood. Her ladyfriends ostricized her for this. She just wanted to have a career, and went to secretarial school. Later she became the Personel Mgr of a major electronics firm in Salem NH. She was loved by the workforce, and often went out of her way, or into her pocket, to help people that worked there.

Did I tell you that she could COOK? Man o man, I miss her lasagna, veal cutlets, stuffed shells and sicilian pot roast.

I went on a ski trip while in high school. We were scheduled to get back home in the early morning hours. Ma stayed up all night to bake me my own lasagna for when I got back in from my trip. It was awesome.

I dont know if I told you that I am a Stutterer. Have been my whole life. When I was in Cub Scouts, at the "Pack Meetings", the scout masters would have their scouts stand up in front of the masses and recite the damn scout oath. Well I'd be up there stuttering away and listening to chuckles from the crowd, when I heard Ma shout, "Shut the hell up! I could find things about you to laugh at too!". That silenced the room and I went on with my oath. When I was done Ma stood up, all alone, and applauded.
That was powerful for that 8-year old kid.