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I WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE DIFFERENT

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As far back as I can remember, I always felt I didn’t quite fit in with everyone my age. Reflecting on my childhood experiences, I believe there were several reasons why I felt like the “Odd One.” 

I grew up in the 1950s. My fraternal twin didn’t seem to care for me at all. On the other hand, I had a lot of friends in the neighborhood where I grew up. My best friend, Joanie, lived three houses away from my house. Then, I made friends with a new girl who lived at the end of Fellowship Road.

That is the name of the street I lived on until I was twenty when I moved out. And there was the fixation I had on Cats. I loved them. The neighbor lady, Mrs. Collins had many, many cats,, and they lived in her basement and could go in and out through a flap in the basement window. They would then be inside a fenced-in area that ran from the back of her house to the end of her backyard. I became obsessed with those cats. I visited them every day, sometimes several times a day, for my entire childhood. And Mrs. Collins had a dog named Rudy, who I loved as well. That is where my love of animals began.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t that I had no friends. I had a lot. First, my best friend, Joanie, lived next door to Mrs. Collins. And all the other kids who lived on Fellowship Road, including the boys. I used to go next door and play with army men with my next-door neighbor, Jackie Rice. He was a few years older than me but a friendly kid. His mother was a window as her husband had died many years before. I used to go to Joanie’s house as soon as I was dressed. Her father soon told me not to come over so early or often. Fortunately, he wasn’t home that much during the day since he worked long hours at an Acme Food store.

After school, I would play with all my school friends, as my friend Joanie had to do her homework right after school. I did mine after dinner. Before I had a bike, I used to walk to my friends’ houses. But once I was on wheels, there was no stopping me. I went over all my girlfriends’ houses and didn’t leave until it was almost dinnertime or when their parents said,” Time to go home, Susie.”

When I wasn’t visiting my friends, I would make things out of stuff I found around my house. I was always a creative kid and kept myself busy. I spent much time at the Maple Shade Library, where I learned how to read. It was located on Main Street, next to the police station. Once I had my bike, there was no telling where I would go or how far. As long as I got home in time for dinner, there was no problem. My parents never asked me where I went or what I was doing. I kid you not. Maybe they thought they were better off knowing what I was up to at any given time.

I rode my bike to Strawbridge Lake and some as far as the Moorestown Mall, the first Mall in Southern NJ. I never had any money, but I still liked walking up and down inside the Mall. At the time, they had a giant birdcage with Parrots, and I came to love those birds. My mother had a pet, a parakeet. And we had a dog (actually, it was my father’s dog; his name was Andy. I loved that dog.

My father did not believe a dog should always be kept in the house. And he would allow him to go and come at will and never seemed to worry where he went. Because he always came back. He also gave Andy corn on the cob to eat, and when Andy went outside, he would poop corn in all our neighbor’s yard. Our neighbors were not fond of Andy. But my father loved that dog. And every night, Andy would lay on the floor next to my “father’s chair.” And my father would pet him all night until he went to bed.

As I related to you early in this memoir, I was not your regular kid. I was extremely creative. I always loved making things, drawing, and making up stories. I told so many stories that most of my family and friends took everything I said with a grain of salt.

When I graduated from the eighth grade, my parents decided that my sister, Karen, and I would attend St. Mary of the Angel’s Academy in Haddonfield, NJ. We had to take the bus back and forth. St. Mary of the Angel’s Academy was an all-girls school, which was just fine with me because, at the time, I didn’t care about boys. I admit I didn’t put much effort into studying and doing my homework. My mother made every effort to make sure I was doing what was required, and it was because of her efforts that I graduated from high school. My mother was the kindest, most loving person I ever met or had in my life. She worked hard all her life and never complained about anything. Everyone said,” She was a saint.” And I believe that was true. My mother was a loving and caring person who worked hard every day. I was so lucky to have her.

THIS IS A DRAWING I MADE OF MY HOME IN MAPLE SHADE, NJ, WHERE I GREW UP.

My father was something akin to a “Big Grouch.” His nickname was “The Old Bear.” And he could be pretty harsh. Over the years, I realized I was lucky enough to have my parents in my life. He did everything he could for all of his children. I’m not saying my father was perfect; he wasn’t. He worked hard but also had his own life outside of home. He played cards for money. On his days off, he had a part-time job at Johnny Marrow’s Auto Supply Store in downtown Maple Shade. He also went to the Garden State Racetrack and played horses. Once, he won big, and he took my entire family out for dinner on his winnings. It was the only time I remember attending dinner with my whole family. I’ll never forget it.

My mother worked at Wanamaker’s employee kitchen while my sister and I attended St. Mary of the Angel’s Academy (a girl’s high school.) I’m not saying my family was perfect; we weren’t. But, as I look back over those many years, I know that I was blessed to have my parents, four sisters, and brother. My older brother was a psychologist and spent his whole life helping people. My eldest sister, Jeanie, lived in New York most of her adult life. And she was lovely and so funny and intelligent. Unfortunately, Jeanie had Alpha-one Atrypsin Deficiency (emphysema), and after many years of being ill, she passed away at forty-one. When I was living in California with my husband Bob, he was attending Brooks Institute for Photography. My only brother, Harry, passed five years ago from liver cancer. I have always been so proud of my brother, who spent his whole life helping people. Luckily, I still have my sister, Karen (my fraternal twin), Eileen, and my sister, Liz. And many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. There’s nothing like an Irish family. And I feel blessed to be a part of it.  THIS IS ME WHEN WAS A LITTLE GIRL

As for myself, although I was somewhat of a shy child, I grew up to be outgoing and independent. I moved out of my parent’s house when I was twenty, and I got my apartment in Haddonfield, NJ, which happened to be the town where I went to high school at St. Mary of the Angel’s Academy. And it was about that time when my best friend Joan, who grew up down the street from my cousin, Bob, was visiting her. She asked if I wanted to see him since I had a childhood crush on him. And that my friends were the beginning of the rest of my life. Bob and I went out a couple of times, and then he returned to Florida, where his family lived. We kept in touch by letter writing and phone calls, and after several months, I moved to Florida to be near Bob. And that my friends was the beginning of my new life, we were married and then Bob decided to Brooks Institue for Photography and we were of to California where we lived for several years until he graduated.

After his graduation, we decided to move back to New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. Where he felt there were better opportunities for work. He wasn’t able to find photography work. So, he started working with electronics which he was proficient and was hired. And that, my friends, was the beginning of the rest of our lives. We decided to start a family. We have two adult children now. Who are both highly intelligent and talented. Jeanette is married, lives in Philadelphia, and makes gorgeous clothing. Bridget lives with us in North Carolina and works in ceramics. However, I spent many years teaching art and painting. I have found that I love writing and have spent much of the last eight years in my free time writing short stories and memoirs. I have also volunteered at an animal sanctuary in Coats, NC, for almost nine years. I care for Parrots, Doves, pigeons, pheasants, and birds of all sizes. As I have said, I’ve always had a great love of animals.

In addition, I have two dogs and ten birds, and my daughter has a cat. I don’t know what my life will hold, but I hope I have many years ahead of me. I look forward to whatever time I have left. Life goes by quickly, so don’t waste any of it.

 

 

Baby Boomers

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My wonderful mother, when she was young.

Yes, people, I am a baby boomer. I was born in 1951. I came from an Irish Catholic family with five siblings. I lived in New Jersey my entire childhood until I was twenty-three, when I moved to Florida on my own. I am now about to turn seventy-four on May 24th of this year. I feel lucky to have been born part of the Baby Boomer generation. I came from a family with five siblings. Of which, my twin sister and I were the youngest. I grew up in the small town of Maple Shade in New Jersey. Our house was two doors from the newly built Our Lady of Perpetual Help elementary school.

I attended elementary school for eight years. When I came of the age to go to high school, I was accepted at two Catholic High Schools, Holy Cross High School and St. Mary of the Angel’s Academy in Haddonfield, NJ. It was an all-girls school, and I was there with my fraternal twin. I graduated in 1969. At this point, I got a job working as a dental assistant in Haddon Township. I worked for Dr. Edward G. Wozniak for several years.

When I was almost twenty-three, I decided to move to Florida to be closer to my now-husband, Bob. We were married in 1974 and have now been married for fifty years. We are retired and living in North Carolina. We had two daughters who are now middle-aged adults.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. I lived two houses away from it.

I don’t know if I would fit the mold of all the other baby boomers of my generation. But I did start making decisions for myself and my future at a reasonably young age. When I moved from New Jersey to Florida, I drove there with all my worldly belongings. My parents did not want me to move, but I did. Everyone in my family was somewhat taken aback by my moving hundreds of miles away from my family since I had always been somewhat of a quiet and shy child. But beneath that shallow surface was a young woman who knew what she wanted and was willing to do whatever I needed to be happy.

My parents kept in touch with me while I lived in Florida. I talked to them once a week and wrote long letters telling them what I was up to, what kind of job I was employed at. I knew my parents were concerned for my well-being. I tried to reassure them that I was fine, had a job, and was generally doing well. Not too long after that, my husband, Bob, decided to go to Brooks Institute in California. He was accepted, and we were off to Santa Barbara with the few belongings we could fit in Bob’s van and my 1970 Volkswagen. We lived there for two years until Bob finished his education.
Meanwhile, I found a job at Robinson’s Department Store selling hats and wigs. If there was a more boring job, I don’t know what it could possibly be. Fortunately, I made friends with quite a few people, and one of them told me about a job working with mentally handicapped children at St. Vincent’s School. I immediately went and applied for a job. The next day, I received a call to come in for an interview. Sure enough, I was hired and worked there for the rest of the time we lived in California. I loved working with the kids, and when it was time to move forward with our lives, I had to say goodbye to those kids I had come to love like they were my children.

Then, we decided to move back to Philadelphia for better job opportunities for Bob. My parents were happy to have me back in New Jersey, and we lived with them for almost a year. Until Bob and I decided to buy a house in Pennsauken, Bob used his VA benefits, which allowed us to purchase a home without a down payment. We lived in that house for fourteen years. I gave birth to my two daughters. My oldest was born in 1981, and the youngest in 1984.

When my oldest daughter was seven and the youngest was four, I decided I wanted to get a college education so that in a few years, I could earn a higher income than minimum wage. I applied to several Art colleges in the Philadelphia area. I prepared a portfolio with my artwork. I was accepted at all the schools. I was offered a scholarship for the first year at Temple, Tyler School of Art, and I accepted it.

So, for the next four years, I juggled going to Temple University full-time and babysat children in the summer when I wasn’t in school to earn extra money. I won’t lie. It was tough having two young children and going to college full-time. I was the oldest Freshman at Tyler, but I went out of my way to befriend all my fellow students and professors. And believe it or not, I graduated four years later with a degree in Art Education and Graphic Design. I applied to every elementary, middle, and high school in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Only to discover that the school budgets no longer supported teaching arts in the public school system. I can’t lie. I was heartbroken.

That is when I came up with the idea to start art school. Sure enough, I found an advertisement for a massive house for sale in Pitman, NJ. It had been unoccupied for eight years. And it needs a whole lot of work, including a new roof. The house was five thousand square feet. It had three floors and two basements. It required a lot of work. Nonetheless, after selling our home in Pennsauken, we bought a house in Pitman. We lived there for twenty-four years until we retired and our children were grown. We had befriended all the people in the neighborhood. There were three empty rooms that the previous owners had used; he was a doctor. I renovated the three rooms and bought all the art materials I could afford. Then I took an advertisement for the ART ROOM. Sure enough, I had students after school and adult classes in the evening. I made many friends in Pitman, students and adults. 

After many years of teaching, Bob and I decided it was time to retire. I knew I would miss our Pitman home and the people we loved there. But there was no way we could afford to live there after Bob retired. After researching states that would be affordable, we decided to move to North Carolina. And here we are nine years later. I have volunteered at an Animal sanctuary in Coats, NC, for nine years. Taking care of birds, mostly Parrots. I have always been an animal lover. And I have ten birds of my own, two dogs, and my youngest daughter has a cat. We also have a Koi Pond. And that, folks, is where I am now retired in NC. Who knows what I will do next, but don’t worry, whatever it turns out to be, I will tell you about it. Life is short, so do your best, treat everyone the way you would like to be treated, and be kind to all people and animals.

Although no longer young, I still have my dreams and goals. Don’t let your age keep you from enjoying your life or be afraid to try something new. Life is short; Live It.

LIFE AS I KNOW IT

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My mother, when she was young

It is the year 2025, and in May, I will be seventy-four. It is hard to believe because I certainly don’t feel that old, but I will be that old. This fact makes me reflect on my parent when they were that age. My father died from lung cancer in 1986, and my mother died from congestive heart failure one year later. My mother was born in 1910, and my father was born in 1911. They were married in 1929. They lived in Philadelphia for a time and ultimately purchased a home my father helped build in Maple Shade, New Jersey.

They had eight children in all. Unfortunately, a set of males that were born after my twin sister and I did not survive as they were born prematurely. They were buried in a cemetery in Moorestown, New Jersey. My oldest sibling, Harry, was twenty years older than me, and my oldest sister, Jeanie, was nineteen years older. My sister, Eillen, is eight years older than me, and my sister, Liz, is several years older. My eldest sister, Jeanie, passed away when she was forty-one. She developed Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency ( a genetic disorder), causing emphysema. No one else in our family developed this disorder aside from her. My sister, Jeanette, was one of the kindest and funniest people I ever knew, and so beautiful. My brother, Hugh Carberry, was twenty years older than I; he passed away five years ago when he was eighty-five. He was a practicing psychologist who spent his life helping people. He was an outstanding father and husband.House I grew up in.

My next oldest sister is Eileen, eight years older than my twin, Karen, and I. She is among the kindest and most hard-working people I’ve ever known. My sister, Elizabeth, is seven years older than my twin and I. She was a practicing nurse in her working years. She dedicated her life to helping people when they were ill. And then there was myself and my fraternal twin, Karen. Karen had a highly successful career in her working life. She was a district manager for Subaru.

My employment years were diversified. Over my forty-year career, I worked in many areas, starting with being a dental assistant right out of high school for six years. Then, I worked as a psychiatric aide in Ancora State Mental Hospital for over a year. Then, I worked at Ellis Insurance Company, selling high-risk insurance Compate in Haddon Township, NJ.

Our home in Pitman, NJ

At that point, I met my now-husband, a cousin of my best girlfriend. I moved to Florida to be with him, and shortly thereafter, we were married. That, my friends, was fifty years ago. My husband Bob and I moved to California because Bob wanted to attend Brooks Institute for Photography, his main interest.

After Bob graduated from Brooks, we moved back to New Jersey and stayed with my parents for about a year, and then we purchased a house in Pennsauken, NJ, where we lived for fourteen years. We had two children, girls three years apart. When Jeanette turned seven and Bridget was four, I applied to Temple University, and I was accepted with a scholarship for the first year after they inspected my art portfolio. I graduated four years later with a 4.0 average with Magnum cum Laude (great with honors) and Art teaching credentials. I sent my resume to all the public and private schools in the South Jersey area. Only to be informed that the public and private schools were no longer teaching art to save money. I spent months looking for a position teaching art to no avail.

Our home here in NC.

That was when I decided to look for a bigger home that would accommodate our family and have room to teach art. I eventually found a home in Pitman, NJ, which had been empty for almost eight years. It was 5,000 square feet. And within that, there was an area with three rooms and a bathroom where I could teach art. And so, we sold our house in Pennsauken and moved into the Pitman home, which needed a great deal of work, not to mention a new roof and new heating and air conditioning units. Somehow, we succeeded in our endeavor; we bought the house and had a new room put on it. Over the next twenty-four years, we renovated the house and the yard, front and back.
I opened my school and taught art to children after school and adults in the evening for many years. In this way, I met and befriended many people who lived in Pitman, and we lived there for twenty-four years. Until we reached retirement age, it was hard to leave our home and all the friends we had made over the many years we lived there. But we couldn’t afford the high taxes we had to pay every year once we retired. It was a difficult decision; our kids had grown up there and had friends. We had many friends; It was hard. But life can be difficult sometimes, and you must roll with the punches and move forward. After much thought and research, we sold our beautiful home in Pitman, NJ, and all our friends. We then retired to North Carolina, which was a less expensive area to live in during our retirement.

And here we are, almost nine years later, living in North Carolina. I have been volunteering at an animal sanctuary for the past nine years. And I began writing short stories and memoirs. I don’t know what will happen in the coming years. But, I will keep on as my generation has always said. So, I keep putting one foot before the other and never give up. Life is what you make of it.

Life Is Not Always A Bowl Of Cherries

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My dear mother, passed away in 1987

My dear mother passed away in 1987

Life Isn’t Always A Bowl Of Cherries. I’ve heard this expression throughout my life many times. And I get it. No one’s life is perfect all the time. As we go through life, we will occasionally face difficult times. We can face health issues that we never would have thought would affect us. This has happened to me. When I was in my early 50s, I started experiencing angina pains up and down my right arm. Then, I began getting short of breath when going up and down steps or sometimes just walking too fast. I tried to ignore it, but it didn’t go away. So, I decided I would make an appointment to see my regular doctor.

The doctor listened to my heart and took my blood pressure. I was asked multiple questions about what I was doing at the time. I noticed changes in my ability to walk without shortness of breath, etc. My primary physician gave me a referral to a cardiologist. I was shaken up about the whole thing. I had just turned fifty, and in general, I had good health. I rarely got sick, I didn’t drink, I didn’t eat meat. I exercised every day. Nonetheless, it seemed as if I had a cardiac condition.

As I was leaving the doctor’s office, tears started running down my face. All I could think about was my mother. She had congestive heart failure, and ultimately, she died from it. Even though she was being treated for it. I was thirty-six when she passed away. My children were six and three at the time. They never really got to know either of my parents since my father had died the year before my mother died from lung cancer. He had been a long-time smoker;, sometimes, he smoked two packs a day. I never smoked. My mother smoked, but she only smoked two cigarettes a day. As it turns out, congestive heart failure is an inherited trait. And unfortunately, I inherited that trait.

Life is full of challenges. We have to face them and deal with them the best we can. We do not get out of life alive. Eventually, we will all pass away from something. I grew up in a family with six siblings. I had an older brother, Hugh who was twenty years older thatn I was, and my sister,, Jeanie who was ninteen years older than I was. Unfortunately, my sister, Jeanie, developed Emphysema; It was called Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. It is a genetic disorder that causes low levels of AAT, a protein that protects the lungs and liver. It’s also known as “genetic COPD” or “genetic emphysema.” It is an inherited trait. When she was forty-one, she passed away. She was among the kindest, generous, funniest people I ever knew. And she was absolutely beautiful. It has been almost fifty years since she passed away.

I still have three siblings, including my twin sister. My oldest sister, Eileen, was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and has spent the last year being treated with Chemotherapy and radiation. After a year, the doctors believe she is cancer-free. I can not tell you how much I admire my sister, who followed the doctor’s orders, endured the treatment, and never complained. She is my hero. My only wish for her is that in her remaining years, she remains cancer-free and healthy. My oldest sibling, who was twenty years older than me, passed away five years ago. My sister, who is my fraternal twin, has diabetes, but other than that, she seems healthy, and my sister, Liz, is well, as far as I know.

I know we have no guarantees in life, so I made a decision years ago after I was diagnosed with left heart failure that I was going to live my life to the fullest, for whatever time I had left. It has been twenty years since I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. And I feel fine at this time, I try to eat healthy food (no meat, no sweets, no junk foord.} And so far, I am doing well. I’ve never had a heart attack, and I haven’t had angina pain in years. I believe I will live out whatever years I have left feeling well and making the most of each day of my life. Who could ask for more than that? As the French say, “ vivre la vie pleinement” Live life to the fullest. And that, my friends, is my advice. Live life, be happy.

 

 

 

BETWEEN A ROCK A HARD PLACE

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Life has a way of teaching people right from wrong and the consequences of choosing wrongdoing. Now, I’ve never described myself as any kind of saint or do-gooder. But, on the other hand, I’ve never intentionally hurt anyone. Although I know I have hurt people. It was not my intention. After all, I had to look out for my own best interest, didn’t I? 

“ I mean, we all have to look out for our best interest, don’t we? Just recently, I was up for a promotion at my workplace. I have been working there for almost five years and haven’t had a raise or a promotion. And to tell you the truth, I know damm well, I deserve it. I worked hours of overtime every week, and many times, I wasn’t even paid for the overtime. I sat by and watched several fellow employees get promoted and paid higher pay even though I’ve worked at this company for several years longer than they have. And to tell you the truth, I’ve had enough; it’s unfair. And I intend to make some changes somewhere, somehow.

Just last week I was about to leave for the day, when my boss, Mr. Conway called me into his office and asked me to close out the customer file I was working on before I left that day, since it was Friday night. I stared blankly at him for a minute or two. And I stammered, ‘but, this is Friday night, I have plans tonight, I promised my wife dinner and a movie. I haven’t been home before nine O’clock for the past month.”

My boss looked at me like I was out of my mind. ” Your wife wants you home early? Well, that’s unfortunate. I suggest you take her out on Saturday night. If you don’t finish this file tonight, we will lose this contract, and then, unfortunately, you will most likely lose your job. It’s your choice.”

I stared at my boss for at least five minutes before I responded. “I just can’t stay late tonight. I will make it up next week. Today is our tenth wedding aniversary. And I can’t disappoint her again; you understand that, don’t you?”

“I understand. I have my own family as well, but my job has to come first, or I won’t be able to take care of my family, and you won’t either if you don’t go back to your desk and finish this tonight.”

I took a deep breath and said,” Finish the file; yes, I understand. I’ll get to it.” I grabbed the file, turned, and returned to my workstation without another word. I felt like my head was going to explode. I could feel my pulse racing, I hoped I didn’t have a stroke or something, then where would my family be. I picked up the phone to let my wife know I wouldn’t be home until late again. I knew she was going to be angry. I was between a rock and a hard place, as my father used to say.

As soon as my wife picked up the phone, she said,” Let me guess, you’ll be late. Do you realize the kids haven’t seen you in almost a week? When are you going to make your family a priority?”

“Helen, you and the kids are my only priority, but how will I pay the mortgage, all the bills, and the tuition for the private schools if I don’t have a job? What can I say?”

“Ok, Ok, I understand, but I don’t like it. But I know you don’t have a choice. Be careful coming home. I’ll explain to the kids why you won’t see them until Saturday.”

“Ok, Helen, let’s make plans to take the kids hiking, to the zoo, or to something fun they like to do. I promise you I’ll make it up to you and them. Maybe your mother can babysit Saturday night, and you and I could go to dinner together? What do you say?”

“That sounds great, Bill. Be careful driving home. I put some dinner in the fridge for you in case I’m in bed when you get home. Drive carefully.”

“I will, Helen; you know you and the kids are my priority, even if it doesn’t seem that way now. I’ll see you later, love you. And then I saw my boss staring at me from across the room. “I thought I clarified that you were to get to work and finish that file. If I can’t depend on you, I will have to start looking for someone who can keep up and make their jog their priority.”

I stared at him momentarily and said,’ You know I have been working overtime for the past several years. I rarely see my kids or my wife. I work more overtime than anyone in this office, including you.’

“Is that right? Well, maybe you should start looking for another position somewhere else. If your family is more important than your job?”

“You’re right. I should start looking for another job, but I’ve been offered several positions in the last several months. And I turned them down because I felt loyalty towards this company. But I can see that doesn’t swing both ways. You always threaten my job if I don’t work twenty-four-seven. I haven’t had a vacation in three years. I hardly ever see my family. Frankly, I’ve had several job offers from our competitors in the past several months. So, let me put this another way: I quit. Good luck replaciing me. I know very few people in this business will work at the company because you have a reputation for treating employees like you own them. So, goodbye, and good luck.”

With that, I walked over to my desk, packed my belongings, and grabbed my keys. And went on my merry way. My “former boss” looked at me with eyes so wide, I thought they might fall out of their sockets.’ And then he said, “ wait, wait don’t decide this without and forethought. You will have a hard time getting a job like this again. I won’t give you any recommendation. You’ll regret it. “

“I feel a weight lifted off my back already, and I won’t regret it.” You will regret it because I’m the only employee with a good relationship with our customers.” None of them ever want to interact with the upper echelon.” With that, I grabbed all my personal property off my desk and out of the desk drawers, turned my back, and walked out of the employee’s exit without looking back. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and could finally take a deep breath again.

“And that, my friends, was the beginning of my new life. I was offered executive positions with several companies I had dealt with over the past decade, and they all offered me benefits like higher pay, paid vacation time, and no late Friday nights. My wife was overjoyed, and my kids were so happy to be able to spend more time with their “dear dad.” And I was in hog heaven, a job I loved, and I didn’t have to work overtime every night. I had four weeks of vacation each year. And bosses that believed their employees had the right to a personal life with their family. From that day forward, I looked forward to going to work and interacting with people who had respect for their fellow employees. “

Over time, I got to know my fellow workers, and they all told me how much they loved this company and the owners. We were all owners of this company because we could buy stock if we chose to do so. So, don’t let anyone tell you to stick to your job no matter what. There is always another path you can take in your life. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. And by the way, my wife and I are going on a second honeymoon for a week on our anniversary to Bermuda, where we spent our first honeymoon. My kids will be spoiled for a week by their grandparents, who promised to take them to an amusement park. So, whatever you do in life, don’t give up. You can always take another path; don’t let anyone tell you differently.

LIFE GOES ON, EVEN WHEN WE LOSE ONE OF OUR LOVED ONES

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The longer I live, the more I realize that what you do in life and put out there will return to you in some form. If you are a caring and generous person, you will be on the receiving end of generosity and love. But you must be aware that people will no doubt try to take advantage of your generous heart. If you are a self-absorbed and selfish person who takes advantage of people, that will come back on you. Karma does exist, have no doubt.

This is a lesson I have learned over my lifetime. When I was younger, I was naive and believed all people were decent, kind, and generous. But, over the years, I learned that this isn’t true. Some people are selfish and self-absorbed, and some have a generous and caring nature and will give you the shirt off their back if needed. My mother was the kindest and most caring person I have ever had. She worked hard every day. She was a loving mother who always put her children’s needs before her own. And if need be, she would get a job to help with my family finances. And not once did I ever hear her complain. Not once.

My mother was a role model in other ways. She was a deeply spiritual woman. She attended Mass at the OLPH Church every morning, said the rosary every afternoon, and prayed for all her children and grandchildren. We lived two houses down from the Catholic church. She was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She never said an unkind word against anyone.

When I was about to graduate from the eight grade my mother started cleaning at the public school in our town, in addition she began to clean other people’s houses to make money to help pay for our school tuition. Eventually, she got a job when I was about to enter high school, cooking in the employee’s kitchen at Wanamaker’s at the Moorestown Mall in New Jersey. She took the bus back and forth to work. I can’t remember a single complaint ever from my mother. Regardless of the weather. Be it the unbearable heat of the summer, or a snowy day when there was oftern three or feet of snow.

My oldest sister, Jeanie who died from emphysema

My oldest sister, Jeanie, died from emphysema when she was forty-one.

She worried about each of her children and grandchildren. I believe she worried the most about my oldest sister, Jeanie. Who became ill when she was twenty-eight. She was diagnosed with Alpha One Antitripsin Deficiency, which is a genetic form of emphysema. This disease affects the liver, the heart, and breathing. At that time, there was no cure. However, my sister agreed to try any treatment that the medical professionals believed might extend my sister’s life. And help other people who also developed emphysema.

My mother began to dedicate her prayers to the belief that god would cure my dear sister, Jeanie.

My sister passed away when she was forty-one. I was living in California at the time. When my husband, Bob, was attending college. To say that my mother and my father were devastated would be an understatement of all time. Losing one of your children, no matter what their age, is a devasting loss for any parent.

Jeanie, my oldest sister, was never anything but kind and loving towards me as was her dear husband Patrick Kernan. Pat kept in touch with my family and myself long after my dear sister passed away. Patrick and Jeanie had two children, Jennifer and Patrick Jr. I can not imagine the loss they felt when their dear mother passed away or the suffering they endured during the years when Jeanie was ill.

It was a long time before I could stop crying whenever my dear sister Jeanie’s name was mentioned or she came into my thoughts. Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten over the loss of my sister. She was intelligent and funny. I still miss her to this day. I don’t know if there is a heaven, but if there is, I look forward to seeing my dear sister there.

For many years I tried to comprehend why my sister, Jeanie developed emphysema and I could never really understand why she did. I wondered how my sister’s illness and ultimate loss of life affected her two young children, Patrick and Jennifer. I can not imagine that watching their dear mother become increasingly ill as she was with emphysema must have been devastating and unbelievably painful for them. Jeanie’s husband Pat was one of the most caring and loving husbands. He took care of Jeanie to the end. He will always hold a special place in my heart.

Jeanie taught me many things over my lifetime, such as real love and not giving up on somebody when things get really bad. You stand behind them and continue to care for them until the end. That human beings have a strong inner core and withstand and overcome many things without giving in, they lose their loved ones, and keep going one day at a time.

And now, here I am at the ripe old age of seventy-three. I don’t know how much longer I will live, but I know I intend to live every moment to its fullest. And someday, if there is a heaven or an afterlife, I hope to meet my dear mother and father, my sister, Jeanie, my brother, Harry, and his wonderful wife, Maryanne, again.

Life is a gift, and we try to embrace every moment of it. Keep in mind how time passes by quickly, and so do the people we have known and loved all our lives. Keep them in your heart and your thoughts. Don’t forget them.