Mom Part 2

My sister Lisa was born in 1956. Mom and Dad were overjoyed. They tried very hard to have kids. And, with her birth came the joy of being parents. Tom came in 1962, and, I was in 1965. My parents never tired of being with us kids. Even to this day, I am stunned that we all were together so much. That seems like a natural thing, but, as I've gotten older I realize how rare that is in the family unit. We ate dinner every night-- with the t.v. off-- and laughed and argued and loved each other. As with every family,there are little favorites. Dad had Lisa and me. Mom had Tom. Perhaps because Tom reminded her so much of her father that she had a special place in her heart for him. There was no jealousy on anyone's part. There was plenty of love to go around....Throughout the 60's and 70's Mom was a happy housewife. Dad was out in the world and he wanted my mother to stay at home until the kids were older. Partly because he wanted us to always have someone at home. Partly because he wanted to keep the cruelness that  life has out there to stay away from his family. He didn't want the wolves at the door.. Lisa got married in 1980 and blessed the family with grandkids. By this time, Tom and I  were grown up and out in the world. The 80's were a time of separation for us. Tom moved away to Ohio for work, Lisa was living in Schaumburg, and, well, I was living it up in my 20's. Dad was in charge of the family, but, Mom was his support system. Behind her sweet demeanor was a strong woman, who when challenged, could be a rock. And, in the 90's she was being challenged beyond belief... In 1991the love of her life developed cancer. Dad, as I have written before, survived, but, he was never the same again. They went from being equal partners to Mom shouldering the brunt of the relationship. She did extraordinary. My sister and I helped as best we could,but, Mom did the heavy lifting. She was cheerful with Dad. Encouraging. Never let him see her get down. But, there were times when I would see the shadow of sadness pass over her face when she would look at him...Then in 1995, my brother died. Shocking, horrible death. I told my parents that their son was dead. Dad took it as best as he could, but, Mom was crushed... Understandable... She took to her bed all the next day while my aunt-- her sister Gloria-- and the rest of our family took care of her. My most heartbreaking memory is of going into her bedroom and hearing her cry for my brother.. ''My poor little boy''... The shock and sadness never went away. Then my Dad died in his sleep 6 months later. Mom found him. Their love affair was over.. In this life anyway... Then came her own horror...