My mom is 92 years old and feels
she has outlived her usefulness. She suffers from COPD, has difficulty
walking, and thinks death is the most beneficial outcome for her. Although
this may seem a harsh outlook, one must know what a productive and useful life
my mother has lived. It’s not surprising she would feel she had lived too long
when one realizes she is the last three of ten children, with only two younger
sisters still alive. Many of her friends have died over the past few years, and
worse yet, she has outlived one of her children. I thought it would be a gift
to my mother to be reminded of just who she is and what she has done.
Mom and Dad returning from their honeymoon in 1947. I born 13 months later! |
My first conscious memory of my
mother was when I was about 3 years old. I was with a babysitter in our
upstairs apartment in Batavia, New York. My parents were attending a wedding,
and my mother told me she’d bring me back a surprise. To understand the
importance of this surprise to me, I should mention that I loved bridal
clothes! The veils, the frilly gowns, the flowers, everything about a wedding
was special to me. I was ecstatic when the surprise my mother brought back was one of the
bridesmaids, in full bridal regalia! Who else would have thought to bring back such a unique gift for
her little girl. This is a memorable example of my mother’s theory of
child-rearing. She thought “out of box” on this occasion and many more times
after that.
Dad and Mom on a trip to Thousand Islands |
I remember many things about that
little apartment. I had a best friend who lived behind us. Sylvia and I would
take turns playing at each other’s houses. But then Sylvia’s mother spoiled
everything by having triplets! My mother told me I couldn’t go to Sylvia’s
house because her mother was too busy with the new babies. For some reason,
immediately after my mother told me I couldn’t go, I jumped over the three
stone steps leading to Sylvia’s, ran to the door and rang the bell. Sylvia
wasn’t home, but her mom, Mrs. V. invited me in anyway. I liked Mrs. V. and
assumed her invitation meant she was happy to have me visit. I explained how my
mom thought I shouldn’t bother her, "but I was sure," I told Mrs. V., "that I knew she
was just waiting for a visit from me." At that moment, I heard my mother calling
me. I figured I was in big trouble. Instead, when I sheepishly returned, my mom
never said a word about my disobedience (which, at this point in my life, was
rare). My mom just asked me if I’d like to invite Sylvia over later that
afternoon. I’m still in amazement 60 years later that I didn’t get a harsh
scolding from my mom. To this day, I don’t know what made her treat me so
mercifully. I decided at the time not to push my good fortune by asking her why
she decided not to punish my disobedience.
Uncle Duke with my brother Jim (who is 20 years younger than me!) Uncle Duke is the one who was supposed to pick me up from kindergarten until I decided to walk home by myself - at age 5! |
My mother's siblings, their spouses and her mom and dad all went out before Mom had to move away. It was a heart-breaking to be the first to move away from the solace of a large family, |
My mom worked hard at being a mother. Her career was taking care of her family. My dad had a job that transferred him to different cities and states. Such moves were part of the promotion ladder he had to climb to rise within the company. The first such transfer took place in the mid 1950’s. (See "The Big Black Phone" in a previous post to get the flavor of that move.) It was a first for Mom, who had never been separated by more than a few miles from her very close family. In retrospect, my siblings and I didn’t really understand how difficult that must have been. She had three small children who she would have to shepherd into an environment she was experiencing for the first time herself. My father was required to begin working immediately, so mom was taxed with settling a home and getting me into school as a second-grader. This leads me to the next vivid memory I have of my mother.
Holding my brother Philip |
Mom, bottom left next to Mary. Back row, from left Josie Rose, Terri and Fran. Only Mom, Mary and Terri survive. |
Mom and my baby sister Gina in a special Mother's Day article in the Toledo Blade, 1961 |
Mom and me on the occasion of my 10th wedding anniversary when Bob and I renewed our vows. Just a little reminder that despite my rebellious streak, I had apparently done well in my choice of a husband! |
My personality was certainly a challenge for my parents. I was strong-willed and supremely confident in my ability to navigate life. Unfortunately, that high opinion of myself started when I was about 13 years old and extended well into my adult years! The prime example of my cock-sure attitude was my decision to marry a man whom my parents weren’t too excited about. Maybe they didn’t approve of him because he kept me out at all hours and could affect my thinking in a variety of new ways. The problems we all faced with this courtship is that it took place 50 years ago, and today’s mores would cause all of us to think differently of the situation. Fifty years ago, under threat of being disowned, Italian-American girls didn’t move out of their parents' home to live in their own apartment. They certainly didn’t stay out past midnight, and they didn’t date men who weren’t Catholic. It was favorably looked upon if their boyfriends were also Italian. My boyfriend fit none of that criteria. And when, in 1969, he called me from Columbia University in New York City where he was studying for his MBA, everything and the kitchen sink hit the fan. He informed me that we could be getting married in six weeks during his school hiatus. And since I was the forward thinking, independent woman of the world, I agreed! Today, I realize I was an idiot for agreeing to such a plan. But back then, it didn’t occur to me to protest. What a difference 50 years makes!
Two of Mom's brothers, Andy far left, and Nick center. |
My daughter Beth with my Mom. Beth was my mother's first grandchild. |
In this case, both my parents
worked to provide me with a beautiful wedding. The time constraints meant we were on a very tight budget, but I remember my mother using her super money-management skills to create a lovely wedding day .One serendipitous moment came when we learned that a bride had just cancelled her wedding and there were five gowns available. And the gowns fit each of the varied sizes of my bridesmaids. I thought such an unlikely event would convince my mother that my marriage to Bob was meant to be. And at that point, she
still wasn’t sure about whether my chosen partner was good husband material
which is a testament to her ability to accept circumstances that were unchangeable. After
almost 48 years of marriage, she is willing to concede that maybe I saw
something in him that she didn’t. In all events, I figured out from watching my mother that when a child becomes an adult, you stop being a mother and start being a cheerleader!
My mom made good friends wherever
she went. Although not highly educated, she speaks with the
eloquence of a college
graduate. She knows how to act in a variety of situations, and has a knack of
making people feel comfortable in many environments. She is a genuine fashion
icon who creates outfits from mere scraps. I remember a black dress that she
adorned in a dozen different ways to economize on her wardrobe. It was necessity
that caused her to do that, but it was still amazing to see.
Mom and her "Grandma Shirt" with names of all her grandchildren.She has doubled that number in great-grandchildren. |
She was the queen of what today is
called “up-cycling.” There were always folded up pieces of aluminum foil
in our kitchen that mother had deemed clean enough to be used again. When staying with my daughter recently, she found a piece of folded
aluminum foil and said, “I can tell my mother is here.” Little did I know that
I had unconsciously picked up this habit from my own mother. Nothing went to
waste in our house. She scrubbed, scraped, shined, patched, sewed and hammered
her way through many objects to bring them to a state of beauty. She hated to
sew, but she once made beautiful red taffeta dresses for my sister and me. It
was a major undertaking, but I loved that dress!
Sometimes, Mom would be short on
money just before Dad’s payday. We soon began to realize something extraordinary
would happen at dinnertime on those days. Mom would take out the good china and
crystal goblets and set the table in the dining room. When that happened during
the week, we knew we were probably eating something simple like an omelet that night. But
the beautiful table setting made it feel like pheasant under glass. It was like a special event. Even when we ate in
the kitchen every night, a table cloth was always on the table. That was
something that always impressed my friends.
Mom surrounded by most of us on the occasion of the 2003 Family Reunion. |
My father (top right) and his Air Force Buddies |
My father worked late on Friday
nights, so my mother would turn it into a fun night. She would buy snacks and
soda pop and spread a big vinyl tablecloth on our living room floor and lay out
this feast in front of the TV, where we would snack while watching a favorite
show. Instead of missing Dad, she made his absence an event. I’m not sure how
he felt about that, but we loved it.
When I went to my first alumni
dance after high school, I wanted a beautiful orange dress I found at a store.
My parents couldn’t afford it, but my mom took one of my old dresses and
retooled it. I remember she put crystal buttons on it. It was better than the
orange dress at the store! What she didn’t know is that my former boyfriend,
who dumped me a few months earlier, would be there. I looked spectacular when I
snubbed him!
Mom is esteemed by everyone for her
kindness and loyalty. She is trusted for her discretion and ability to keep a
confidence. She has offered her help to family and friends in need. She has
often awakened in the morning and found my cousins, friends, siblings and I sprawled out
on our living room floor after partying the night before. She took it in stride
and laughs about seeing all those bodies laid out on the floor.
Mom and newest great-grandchild, MJ, who is the daughter of Philip's daughter Christina. (Psst: Mom is 92 years old here.) |
She drives her children crazy, as
any good mother should. She can drive us up a wall with a comment and then
innocently ask “what? what did I say?” I especially like it when she says “she
just won’t say anything anymore.” We take odds on how long that threat will
last. She’s a real “drama queen” at times and amazes us with her ability to be
furious until the doorbell rings and she answers it with a smile. Without
mentioning names, some of us believe she could have been a Hollywood actress.
In looking back over my mother’s
life, there is so much for which she can be proud of and humbled by.
She has contributed to many lives in different ways perhaps not always realizing how she has affected others. Old age can rob of us of so much, but my mom has hit old age with the fury, indignation, and humor she has displayed throughout her life. Mother’s Day isn’t just about one day in a year, or one year in 92. It is about what mark is left by the mothering you have done. My mother has left a mark etched in stone. My mom is not useless, because what she has done throughout her life keeps giving and is passed down through generations. Her children took have followed her example and passed it on to their families. So -- take a bow, Mom!
She has contributed to many lives in different ways perhaps not always realizing how she has affected others. Old age can rob of us of so much, but my mom has hit old age with the fury, indignation, and humor she has displayed throughout her life. Mother’s Day isn’t just about one day in a year, or one year in 92. It is about what mark is left by the mothering you have done. My mother has left a mark etched in stone. My mom is not useless, because what she has done throughout her life keeps giving and is passed down through generations. Her children took have followed her example and passed it on to their families. So -- take a bow, Mom!