The memories we always leave behind at a time like this, are fond memories of course. There are bad ones too, but we do try to focus on the positive. We grew up as young children in what I always refer to as sort of a â??Leave it to Beaverâ? time of life. Maybe we were the family that show was based on. Maybe not. But Dad coming home to Mom, who was always in a dress with dinner cooking, was just exactly that. Anytime I see that show I think, man, thatâ??s me and Mike. Even at a young age, I personally thought my Mom worked her ass off. I remember coming home from Catholic School one day, walking in the house, and my Mom was mopping the kitchen floor with suds up to her knees from an overloaded washing machine. It had spread from the laundry room all the way into the kitchen. She was cleaning, and mopping, and crying. Butâ?¦..she did not stop. It had to be done. As did treating my wounds from a bicycle accident where my face met the pavement and I needed bandages, ointments, and kindness. I got it all. But I got reprimanded too. I once stole a candy. A Rollo caramel and chocolate candy from the Alpha Beta grocery store. Now, really, when you think about it, what observant Mother would not know what is in a 5 year olds pocket? She asked me where I got it. I told her. She immediately sent me walking to the store, which was a mile to me, but really only a block. Apparently she had called them, because I was met by the manager, who I returned the already opened candy to, and apologized. Then made the long walk home. But, that was one of those lessons learned, from someone who wanted their children raised right. Getting 25 cents from the tooth fairy, then when we get to the bigger teeth, you get a raise. 50 cents. Ohâ?¦myâ?¦.gawd. Cuts, bruises, stitches, broken bones, measles, and chicken pox. Our Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations along with the home movies are like a Norman Rockwell painting. Through it all, and this is only in the early years, we couldnâ??t even go outside and play unless we had on freshly washed and ironed clothes. Some of you may laugh about that, but I am not kidding, and Aunt Mary knows exactly what I am talking about.As we age of course, things change, people grow up, or die, move away, get married, and all the rest of it. But my Mom turned into a very aggressive real estate guru. Not just as a closer, because I remember a time when she actually had two secretaries. And a couple of times I went to see her for lunch, I had to take a seat, and wait. Wow. I was thinking, â??Way to go Mom.â?I believe she lived a good life. It seemed to come to an end though when my Dad died. Even though that was 13 years ago, it was a loss she could not overcome. The medical issues in the most recent years, well, I suppose can happen to anyone. But she did have an attitude. My wife Pat seems to think that is where I got mine from. I call it simply being a smart ass. She was a pro at it, possibly followed by me. There is so much more to a lifetime of memories that can ever be expressed on one piece of paper. I know I have only touched on a couple of things here. But I do hope now, she can be at peace in Heaven with Roy, Mike, Rick, Donnie and Shawn.Be at Peace Mom, Love David
