December 27, 2022, my parents’ first anniversary together “upstairs”. Not the second floor, we didn’t have one. We lived in a “sprawling”1250 sq ft ranch. Not the crawl space either, but you get it, Heaven. (Pretty sure it’s safe to assume they’re both there!) It would’ve been 68 years for them. They made it till #63 together on earth. Dad left us almost 5 years ago and Mom left us was 9 months ago on this past Christmas Day. Hard to even fathom either of those time frames. Gone by in a blink. I was blessed to be with both of them as they left this mortal world. Dad was in hospice at Middlesex Hospital and Mom was right where she wanted to be, in her own house, right in the front living room. Before she passed, I cracked a window so her spirit/soul could fly out and upwards. My younger brother Jerry was there with me. I had called him about 0730 saying I think it’s imminent. I was right. Although I almost missed it because I was in my pjs when he got there and had been at her side all night. I wasn’t planning on leaving her side NOW! Well not until Jerry gave me that “you look like hell” look, and said, “Ahh, you’re jumping in the shower, right?” I wasn’t planning on it. “I think you better, people will be coming over.” Okay, arghhh… It was the fastest shower evah, thank goodness, because I was barely dressed when Jerry yelled, “Come here, QUICK!!!”…Omg, within 5 seconds, She was gone. Gone. Mom’s gone. Tears, hugs, more tears, more hugs. I love my brother Jerry. He’s the closest human to me that fills my “4 brothers but no sister” void.

My parents met on a blind date on March 13, 1954. They were fixed up by one of Dad’s friends. They were married only 9 months later during Dad’s Christmas vacation from teaching. Guess they didn’t want to wait until the following summer?!! Anywho, I’m pretty sure if my memory serves me right, they went to Niagara Falls on their Honeymoon. Canada in December? Talk about freezing to death, or not, that is, not if they never left their room! But I digress. Sorry, but a good segue to…

Mom had several miscarriages before my eldest brother Billy was born. Billy was named after Dad, William, but was given a different middle name, that of Gerard. Wondering why he’s not a Junior? First, yes, Irish Catholics pray for the intercession of Saints. St. Gerard is the Patron Saint of pregnant mothers. Mom must have made a deal with St.Gerard. Save this pregnancy and if it’s a boy, he gets your name! Fun Fact: Billy’s birthday is 3 years to the day of their blind date! March 13, 1957. Second Fun Fact: second eldest brother Timmy was born 10 months later!! Mom was PG at her 6 week postpartum checkup!! Billy and Timmy’s baby photos are in Webster’s Dictionary under the phrase: Irish Twins! To further the ☘️ clan, I was born the following year! St. Gerard gets an A+++. After 3 kids in 3 years, she must have realized St. Gerard did his job almost too well. There was a nice little break before Jerry, he’s 4yrs younger than me and “Neil Dog Potato Salad” is almost 10 yrs younger. (I have a friend in FL who’s one of 16 children. 8 boys, 8 girls. I canNOT even begin to imagine a) being pregnant 15 times (one set of twins) nor raise that many kids. Mind-boggling.

Mom always reminded me, begrudgingly, that her labor with me stopped half way through. Hours passed without any contractions. Anyone who knows me well knows the reason why!! Why of course, I took a nap during labor and haven’t stopped!! I’m a yuge nap taker. Sometimes a 20 minute power nap, other times a 1-2 hour I don’t know what day it is when I wake up nap!!

I have dreamt about both of my parents since they’ve passed. Interesting that they’re never old and falling apart. They are young and in their prime. Happy, enjoying life, raising a bunch of kids on a dime. Sacrificing their lives for us kids. Everything they did, they did for us. I sure hope they know how much we loved them because we sure know they loved us. I pray that my dreams are a reflection of a pain free life they have in Heaven. And I hope they celebrated #68 today “upstairs” surrounded by their family and friends. ❤️❤️

XO, Kate

12/27/22

ps, I’ve often wondered if Mom’s miscarriages were a sister(s) that someday I’ll meet in Heaven.