KIDS PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I had another thought that came to mind how mom supported us playing musical instruments.  We all went to Walt Disney Magnet School and they wanted you to play an instrument.  I remember playing clarinet. I think my sister played violin, and my brother not sure if he played anything. I'm sure she had to have patience with the bad sounds coming out of our playing.  I cant remember if I was good or not, but do remember my sisters violin skills not being very good. LOL

Sports with Mom, Bowling:

Most of my family bowled and many of us still bowl. I remember growing up and running around in bowling alleys as they didn’t use babysitters as much back then. Would get yelled at for running up and down the stairs with other kids. I remember a 2nd floor bowling alley on Pulaski and Fullerton I think it was? Then there was Monte Claire on Harlem and Belmont. Those were 2 alleys I remember growing up in, but I am sure there were others. All of us kids had our own bowling ball growing up and we would bowl often. My mom would say she was a decent bowling in her prime, but I cant remember those games back then. She said she was better than Kim, but need some stats to see. LOL. I knew mom, dad, aunts and uncles would all bowl back then. I heard my grandfather was a great bowler too, though he passed when I was young so I never saw it. Maybe that’s where I got my great bowling skills from? Even later years mom would come and watch us and enjoyed it and would talk trash if someone was beating me. Lots of good times in the bowling alleys.

Sports with Mom, Bingo:

My whole family loved Bingo so much. I grew up in so many bingo halls. I remember Golden Tiara a lot with Mom and grandma on Cicero and Belmont I believe. I also remember a more local spot close to home in Logan Square area. I would go and all of the older women would give me stuff cause I was so cute, LOL. I remember one night leaving and I had a large pop container with a straw and I was jumping up and down with it. As we got out of the hall there were some cement stairs and I jumped and fell face first. The damn straw went right into my chin and cut it open pretty good. Got in the car and mom and grandma were like I probably needed stitches. I cried and cried and screamed that I don't want stitches. And well they didn't take me and have a scar on my chin to show for it.

Sports with Mom, Swimming:

I remember going often to Welles Park indoor pool. Was a great time with family. I think a friend almost drowned me once throwing me in the deep end. Also, I think my brother fell off a locker room bench and busted his face and got stitches if I remember correctly.

Sports with Mom, Football:

I do remember watching many games with Mom. Even when her memory started to wane. She would still always want to watch the Bears game. Which would usually frustrate me as I wasn't a big bears fan and usually had bet or picked the other team to win. So when they scored she would cheer. She also believed there was holding on every play against the Bears. But when I showed holding against the Bears she didn't see it. LOL. She loved football. She just wanted to watch the Bears or the Redskins which she was a big fan of as well. She would even get into my confidence pool. Sometimes she would pick teams out of a hat. Write down the team names put it in a hat and pick out the winner based off of that. At times she would ask me to make a list for her of each teams Quarterback and Running Back to see which team she would choose and she generally remembered those players names. She even won a few times picking out of a hat showing that sometimes all the football knowledge doesn’t matter.

Sports with Mom, Basketball:

Basketball was my favorite sport. Wish I was a little bit taller. From playing on our alley rim, to our friends crate on the telephone post in the alley across the street. To playing on our knees on our mini rim upstairs, and breaking the drywall one time I remember. It was my favorite sport. I played at Riis Park all the time till the park closed. I made the All Star team there a few times in the rec league. Killing it from 3s like Steph Curry. Lol. I do remember we were finally moving out of the city to the suburbs. Give credit to my mom and dad wanting the best for us. Though, I grew up there and didn't want to leave. The night before moving I was supposed to be home packing. I didn't want to leave, so I was at Riis parking in the field house playing basketball with friends. Someone was trying to drive on me and I was good at getting steals with my long arms. I reached for a steal, and the guy driving head butted heads with me on accident. I kept playing and a friend said my head was bleeding. I kept playing, the gym was hot and just kept wiping my face thinking it was sweat. But my friend was like dude your face is jacked up. I stopped, went in the bathroom to look in the mirror, and had a huge gash over my eye. So now had to go home late, my mom was mad that I was out late, when she was expecting me to pack. She was SOOO pissed. Now I got to take you to the emergency room, when I got all this going on she said. But like a good mom she took me, and was there with me, had I think 7 stitches above my eye, but she was always there in the hospital with me. Something I never forget.

I also had horrible asthma as a kid. Was hospitalized many times. A few times I thought I was going to die, struggling for any breathe late at night. But family and mom was always there in the hospital for me. If you haven’t been in one, and hospitalized for a long time, sometimes it makes you feel so alone and lonely. Just you and a TV and the staff. But having someone be there, sleep on uncomfortable chairs, and just be there for you is such an amazing feeling. My mom struggled at the end recently. I tried to be there as much as possible in return and to hold her hand and talk to her letting her know that I was there. Even though she couldn't speak back. One night I left telling her I loved her and she said she loved me, which surprised me in her state and not able to talk much. In the end, I know she was there way more for me than I was for her, but I did try hard and hoped she realized it. 

Sports with Mom, Baseball:

I do remember my aunts telling me stories of going to Cubs games with me when I was a baby, and getting autographs from players. I wonder how she felt in Wrigley, as I know she was a die hard Sox fan, and I believe my aunts were too. Good thing her kids chose the good guys and became Cubs fans. LOL. Whenever I would watch the Cubs, she would say Oh you are watching those Losers? So, her White Sox fandom never wavered.

I played little league and Mom and Dad supported me. I played for the athletics. James Bade my Disney Magnet school friend was my teammate. What a site I was the smallest kid in class and he was the tallest. Have a pic somewhere together, seemed like a foot taller than I. I don't remember how many years I played little league but mom supported me. I loved the sport. Played with friends in the neighborhood at both Riis Park and Hanson Park. Also played in high school for a while. Loved it but loved basketball more.

Sports with Mom, Karate:

As a kid I was trying to find myself and find what activities that I liked to participate in. My mom supported me trying Karate. I was so into ninja stuff and martial arts as a kid. I even got in trouble in grammar school for bringing real chinese stars to school. I used to do ninja fights and training with a neighbor family. They had ninja costumes for the girls and boys in the family and we would run around the neighborhood playing Ninjas at night. Would even climb the alley telephone poles with climbing claws. LOL. People dont believe me, but this family was really into it and had all the tools and weapons and I would always train and play with them. Never told my mom this. Anyways, karate was less impressive to me. I remember going to Dragon Academy karate school on Milwaukee ave. Mom took me and always supported me. I lasted for a while, and I can't remember what color belt I finished with but moved onto other sports I was interested in after that.

I knew Linda only briefly as my mother-in-law.  I attended her 70th birthday party.  Many friends and family were there to celebrate her big day.   After too much food and a lot of laughs, we all settled down to play cards.  Her oldest son Eddie, later told me "she loved" playing cards.  

At the end of the night, Linda and I were the last two players standing (actually sitting). Her sons and daughter stayed beside her until the end, offering their support and cheering her on.  It was a riot.   We went back and forth for some time.  When all was said and done, I won the pot, but Linda stole the hearts of everyone there with her smile.

Her energy will be missed, but not forgotten.

When my Mom finally got home from work, she called me into the kitchen and asked me to bring my assignment.   I walked slowly over and handed it to her.  I sat down while she read it, anxiously awaiting some unknown punishment for some unknown reason.   When she finished, she walked over to the sink, fussing with a glass that had been left on the counter.  She said that it was "very, very good".  I waited for a but... Still at the counter, seemingly doing nothing, she told me my teacher had called her because she believed my story was exceptional and that writing was a subject my parents should encourage me in.  She turned around, her eyes slightly pink and handed me a brown paper bag with a Hallmark logo.  Inside was my very first journal.  Sidenote - I would later regret journaling.  In High School my Mom unearthed my journal and read some very private details about my first boyfriend :) I was in toubleee.  Grounded for weeks, lol

What I will never forget and always cherish about the day my Mom told me I had a talent is the warmth that washed over me knowing that my Mom was proud...of ME!  It stayed with me all of my life and every time she would mention in casual conversation that "Melanie should be a writer, she's very good at it" that same warmth came rushing back.  I would later come to know it as confidence.  A confidence my Mother gave me.  

I have written nothing of note (maybe a few well worded work emails) but to this day, I believe I am a good writer because my Mom told me so <3  She was a good Mom

....I never said anything about grammar though, so ya'll need to put those red pens down :D 

Travel with Mom 1

We had so many great childhood travel memories with Mom. I will add comments on those. I didn't travel a lot with Mom in my adult years but it was surely always and adventure.

I had a trip planned with friends to go to Niagara falls. I even booked an amazing falls view room with a Jacuzzi that could accompany probably 10 people. Well all friends backed out. I talked with Mom and she said I would like to go. I had bookings and I knew if Mom was going it meant I would have to pay for everything. I did it however.

We drove there, so driving was crazy. Always a backseat driver and putting her break on on the passenger seat. My sister and aunt do the same and comment on my driving skills. It was a tough drive with her constantly complaining though. 

Then we get to the hotel and I am always a planner with my travels. Have all my itinerary ready and where to go and what I want to see. I planned things logically like one day seeing all Canadian side attractions and the next day all US side attractions. She didn't agree though and kept complaining of why we had to do everything I wanted. I guess hoping back and forth over the border with delays for check in made more sense to her.🙄

It was a great trip though and have many amazing photos from that trip. I will share some here with Mom. Best one was the butterfly that stopped on her head. I probably could have gotten more amazing photos but I believe Mom was the worst photographer on the face of the planet.any times I would ask her to take a photo of me. I would walk to the spot needed put the right zoom, have the right distance. Tell Mom to stand in that exact spot and just press the button. However time after time I would look at the photo she took and it would just show my legs and not the rest of my body. Or part of my body and not the amazing imagine behind me😔 

This was way before the selfie stick time so I think I missed some great pics of me with iconic spots. In the end though was a great trip with Mom. Even when returning home and driving thru Michigan which was a 75 mph speed limit she constantly said I was speeding. Asked me to drop her off in Detroit to fly home cause she didn't like my driving. Lol. Told her to just sleep and we would be home soon.  We made it and have some great photos and memories 

Race Car Driver:

I remember mom telling me a story when I was an infant and she was waiting for a bus with me in her hands in really bad weather when a guy offered her a ride. She accepted and he said he was Richard Petty and a race card driver. She didn't know him and didn't act impressed. The next day she asked people if they knew who that was. 

I could have been on the NASCAR circuit racing cars if she played her cards right 😁

My mom's cooking:

While I claim to be the chef of the family.y skills came about when Mom and Dad would work late and I took care of my brother and sister. I remember I had a paperback Betty crocker cookbook and that's how I got into cooking. Mom would buy me the ingredients I needed and I would try the recipes. I think London broil was the first one I tried. Can't remember the results on it though. my mom had a few good dishes I loved though.

Beef and Peapods.

I wish I had this recipe..it was amazing. Have tried to recreate it but haven't succeeded. Donna even mentioned it.

Loved her Chili too. Still use the recipe to this day only upping the chili powder to make it a bit more spicy.

Scalloped potatoes. This was another great recipes with onions tomatoes and potatoes.

Egg rolls. We had this amazing recipe that it's sad we lost. Was from Tammy a coworker of my dad's. We made these for appetizers often and really the only egg rolls I ever liked. Wish I still had this recipe.and Tammy's ham fried. Rice which was on the same recipe paper.

I also got more into cooking from my dad's monthly poker parties that would rotate monthly from the poker party members houses. So when they came to our place I would help Mom and loved preparing the apps and meals and was a big contribution getting me into cooking. 

Wonderful tasty memories ☺️

Mom loved her hotdogs. As long as you got her toppings right. She loved Gene & Judes. Could easily devour 2 hotdogs and fries. When I could only handle 1. Thinking of her favorite spots as some are long gone 

Gene & Judes: Jimmy's: Demon Dogs: Franksville; Ziggy's: Elfmans; Portillos: Rand Red Hots: Super dawg: Flukys: 

There are others I can visualize as a kid but can't remember the names.