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Memories of
Truth
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! I'm amazed - yet again - at how these columns follow each
other. Last week was about how women - at large - treated men when they
were expressing their new found freedoms and liberties. I found out
last Friday that an old girlfriend's boyfriend...who became a friend of
mine for the last 28+ years - died.
We lived four lots apart in the same mobile home park. I lived with my
young son - buying a mobile home - a single Mom trying to make it all
work. My mind was on the usual - job, bills, school clothes, car
repairs, food, vacations, etc. When Old Man Winter huffed and
puffed..blowing a drift of snow as high as the top of the bumper on my
car - somehow it got shoveled. I could get to work and wherever else I
needed to go. I did not shovel it...nor did my son. It would be years
before my son heard "him and his brother" talking while they shoveled
out my driveway. Yep - you guessed it - the "mysterious shoveler" is
the friend of mine who recently died.
There were other single Mothers in the mobile home court - he did not
shovel out their driveways. I finally figured out that my lifestyle
must have spoken for itself - no wild parties - no constant parade of
different guys or "unseemly" behavior.
He knew I loved him like a brother - I told him that after his brother
(the other "shoveler") died of cancer some 8 years ago or so. We
understood, and both believed (and lived) "that all we have is each
other in this life. We believed that - in the end - we make it harder
on ourselves when we live our lives with no regard for others and their
rights to live their life how they see fit to do so."
One of my fondest memories is when his son - maybe four at the time -
had had a round of shots that all kids get. Being the proud Dad he was
and showing his love and concern for his young son - he knocked on my
door all frantic. His son had a low-grade temperature...was drinking a
whole lot of milk...and Dad was beyond concerned. He asked me: "Do you
know Dr. So&So? Will you call him for me? Is it safe to give my son
this fever-reducer? Will it interfere with the shots? How long should I
give it (the fever-reducer) to my son? Are there going to be any
side-effects to this? How long will the side-effects last? How will I
know if the side-effects are severe and I need to take him to the
hospital?" I relayed the information the Dr had given me to the Dad who
stood shuffling his feet. He said thanks and left. The kiddie was fine.
That kiddie came down to play with my son and ended up becoming like a
son to me. I doubt that he's fine as I pen this column. He lost his
Mother to cancer some 5 years ago or so. Now his Father has lost his
short battle with cancer. In a situation like this - there's just not
much you can say or do.
RIP, VAR. I'm glad I knew you. You made my life better in more ways
than I realized. I see your smile as you cracked one of your jokes. I
remember the look we exchanged when you said you were raising your son
your way - period.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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