Remembering

In the early morning, the sun was still rising above the trees. There was a familiar crispness in the air that was comforting to me. This feeling was one that I had experienced many times before but not since several years earlier when my Mom passed away. I was standing in the driveway of my childhood home the day of my Father's Memorial service and I was drinking in the beauty of the morning.

The memories of my childhood came rushing back to my mind, one after another. I recalled sleigh riding in the woods with my younger sister Jeannie and playing catch with my youngest sister Linda in our yard. Our home was in the Catskill mountain region of New York State ; our winters were often severe and the snowfall sizeable. I remembered shoveling snow like it was an Olympic event. My friends next door and I built snow forts and had epic battles as the snowballs were hurled back and forth.

My parents rented homes in the first years of their marriage living in NYC and in Rockland County for about a year. My Father had a friend that told him about a housing development further north and invited us to visit. Louie and Joan explained to my parents how much they enjoyed their three-bedroom ranch home and even showed them utility bills which sealed the deal. My parents had our home built just a few streets from their new friends and a lifelong friendship ensued.

Our house became a home because of the love and determination of my parents, Angelo and Clara. My father served in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He worked for Ford Motor Company as a security guard and later as a custodian at a local school district. He also took in floor waxing and office cleaning to help ends meet. My Mom stayed at home until my high school years and she earned an Associates degree at Orange County Community College . She entered the workforce after I graduated high school. I know that I learned my work ethic from my parents.

Saturday morning was the day my sisters and I were tasked to clean the house. Each of us had a particular room to clean and it had to pass inspection from our Mom. We learned to do a complete job and then we were free to do whatever we wanted.

Parents often sacrifice their own wants and desires for the good of their children. I know my parents made sure we had a roof over our heads and we never went hungry. We were loved and in turn we loved our parents. Being a parent myself I saw this principle at work with my own family. My Mom told me that she wanted to see if her children were happy and knowing that she was at peace with herself and the Lord. I was able to express to my Dad how much I admired him and for all the hard work he did supporting our family. I told him he was my hero and that I loved him dearly and that touched him.

Standing there that crisp cool October morning as the day was beginning to dawn I knew in my heart that a big chapter in my life was coming to a close. Both of my parents were now with their Savior but it felt so empty in that house without them. In my mind, I could still hear my Dad's authoritative voice calling me and my Mom's conversations we had around the kitchen table. I could remember my sisters and me taking turns watching television shows we enjoyed.

Eventually, our childhood home was sold to another family and my sisters and I have some great memories to cherish. We had good parents who loved us the best way they knew how. I have been blessed with the family I was born into and thankful to God for them. May we all be making memories that our family members will hold dear in their hearts.

Blessings,

Mike