My Mom,
I remember when we lived on Lawrence in Don Mills, it would be nap time, I would sneak down after a bit, Mom would be laying on the couch watching her soaps, drinking a coke, having a smoke-her quiet time. I would peek down through the bannister, she would see me, I always ended up curled up on the couch with her. As we got older she taught us all how to ride a bike, she even set up ramps for us. The Allen family lived up the street, Mr Allen worked for the Toronto Star, the next thing you know the paper people were there in our driveway. Dick stole the show that day, I crapped out. My Mom gave us that wonderful memory. It was a different time then, we would get on the TTC, the bus stop right at our door, while Mom watched, and get off at Edwards Garden, then walk to St Bonaventures. Mom was the Brown Owl for the brownie pack at that time. Being raised Catholic, Mom would take us to church every Sunday, she had a pretty voice, I remember singing hymns besides her. Dad would sometimes join us, but he would usually stay home to make us brunch.
The first house in Clarkson on Banwell, when we moved from Don Mills, had a pool, in the backyard! Lucky kids we were. Dad wasn’t much of a swimmer but Mom was! I was 9 years old when we moved there, I would play school with my stuffed animals and dolls, we had a blackboard I would set up, always with a hot chocolate, “coffee”. I played that so much, Mom taught me how to make “coffee”. And then how to peel potatoes and help her in the kitchen. In this house she taught me how to crochet and do needlepoint. She taught me how to play Cribbage and Euchre. We moved a few years later to a townhouse on Southdown, walking distance to the roller skating rink, best move ever, Sam and I thought so anyways. Not sure what My brother was doing at this time, but he was a boy and younger. During this time we all attended St Helens elementary school, made great friends and just had fun being kids.
Growing up, mom was the one with the day to day rules, if she reached for her slipper, gave us a look, we knew. Mom made the curfews and stayed up waiting for us to get home.
After Clarkson we moved to Meadowvale. It was in the spring, so we didn’t have to change schools, Mom would drive to Clarkson everyday to drop us off and pick us up. When school started in the fall, all 3 of us had to go to separate schools, what a shock that was. Mom also started working again, at Variety Food Fair. At first I found that so hard, I would call Mom with a stomach ache and she would send a cab to get me. I went to St Ignatuis Loyola in Erin Mills, the cab would drop me off at the store, I would run in get money, pay the driver. With the change, I would go to Mama Amy’s pizza joint in the plaza, walk home and carry on. Mom knew I was having a hard time and let me do what I needed to do, adjust and grow. And grow we did, we all attended Meadowvale Secondary School, with a mall across the road. This was a great hang out for all. Mom worked in the food court during this time, which put a damper on any shenanigans her 3 teenagers thought they could get away with. Mom knew all of our friends, always had a smile for them, a kind word, knew all their names. Mom also didn’t hesitate to give any of them shit if needed. All our friends had the most respect for Mom. My Mom was an awesome chauffeur, she would pick me up from work if it was dark out, drive us to the roller rink in Clarkson and many other places teenagers wanted to go. We were a close family, vacations, Sunday drives, always Sunday dinners, it was nothing to hang out with each other. Some Friday nights Mom and I would sit, chat and read in the living room or watch a chick flick together.
When Dad had his first cancer scare, we 3 were teenagers, my Mom, kept us altogether with her strength. We knew dad was sick but with Mom there, we got through it. Mom cared for dad during his treatments and continued to be the mom she always was. Thank you Mom.
A few years after tragedy hit us. Mom found her youngest child forever asleep in his bed. Myself, now a mom of 2, I have no idea how she made it through those very hards days and all the years to come. I know Dick was always in Mom’s heart and forever on her mind. We miss him so very much. I take comfort that they are together again.
Dad was always a gambler, bought lottery tickets, bet on football and horse races. The day Mom called to tell me Dad won Lotto 649, I really wasn’t all that surprised - this was Dad! I was so happy they could retire young and have something good happen. They really started to travel, did some house renovations, bought my sister and I our first homes. Some say money changes people, this didn’t happen with them, they stayed Mike and Midge. This didn’t buy her all her happiness, it couldn’t bring back my brother but it did give them excitement. My Mom deserved it!
Dad was diagnosed with cancer for the 2nd time, the year I married Bruce. Once again, shit is happening. Mom helped plan my wedding while the whole time preparing for dad to undergo surgery, which we didn’t know what the outcome would be. Once again my Mom showed me how strong of a woman she was. This was 1993, and Mom lost your husband. She cared for him at home, with help from Sam and I and the VON, but she was a rock through it all. Thank you Mom.
A couple years go by, Mom meets a guy. She called to tell me, I think to get my okay.
I’ve always just wanted my Mom to be happy, so that’s what I said - be happy. Here comes Bryan and 3 kids, Ian, Trista and Jenna. Mom loved Bryan and his kids. You could tell they had fun together. When Mom and Bryan moved to Lagoon City, I was happy for her, she started doing stuff I never thought my Mom would do. Snowmobiling, boating! She was having fun! I missed my Mom when they moved, she wasn’t around the corner anymore, I couldn’t just pop in...we spent so much time together, we would go to bingo, shop or just sit and chat. Mom was my friend.
Sam, Dick and I were so lucky to have her for our Mom. She is the reason Sam and I are so close and if Dick was still with us, we 3 would be the best of friends. I’ve learned a lot from my Mom, I am who I am because of her example and guidance.
Thank you Mom, for being you.
I love you.
I miss you.
Michelle ❤️
