22 June, 2021
(I wrote this on the above date but could not post till today, 26 June, 2021
Happy Birthday, Mommy. You are now a centenarian! Wow, it's been a long ride...
Know that you are Loved. Know that I respect, honor and consider myself blessed with the amazing genes you passed on to me. They have taken me thru a few of life's corners - without which I might have fallen.
I see some of your beauty and strength in my child - how he perseveres thru life's struggles and always wakes up on the positive side of his bed - a trait straight from your heart.
I recall your strength as you raised us; your perseverance as you worked hard and long to keep food on our table; how you Loved and cared for us with all that your heart and soul could bear.
I see Grandmere in your smile, Grandpere in your steadfast ability to not give up, tho Grandmere had those qualities as well. I recall your sorrow as you told the story of watching your parents stand together next to their home that had burned to the ground, crying together like lost souls.
I thank you for allowing me to spend time with Grandmere when I was in my early teens; I recall sitting with her on her back porch, drinking strong Italian coffee from her beautiful little demitasse cups, overlooking her large garden of flowers that she tended to, so devotedly; her plum trees across the driveway from the porch. I recall the smell of her kitchen when she made her spring salads - the spices she put in her dressing that you passed down to us. I recall the sound of the well hand pump in her sink years before she changed out to a more modern pump - how it sounded as the water came slowly up from its depths....how cold it was and how wonderful it tasted.
I keep in my memory the early morning dawns as you and I hung laundry in the back yard in Lower Bank - how you taught me to tighten my tummy muscles every time I reached down to the basket for another piece of clothing; I recall how you and Pat slowly, diligently, built that $50,000 house (in the 1960's value) from a simple chicken coop. My memory holds the warmth of your care when I had a bad cold - how you made me perspire with loads of blankets, PJ's and then would change out everything for another natural and successful battle with the fever.
I recall the event when Daddy broke your favorite end table and how I reacted; a freeze-frame moment for all three of us.
I recall the bell you installed at the end of the house that called us in for meals and other necessities and how you insisted we stay outside and play. Tho we moaned and complained, that taught us to be creative, taught us to get along and play together, gave us fresh air and sunshine...while it gave you your necessary time to reboot as "Mommy".
Your picture on Gabby, our beautiful Egyptian Arabian Mare that we took in Las Animas when you visited us at Road 17...how you Loved to ride; I recall your stories of your rides in Central Park, NYC, I can still see in my mind your riding jodhpurs and boots that you kept in Lower Bank.
Your picture taken at Grumman Aircraft in your welding outfit - holding your welding hat -your gorgeous smile.
I recall your sad story about how you and your first husband, Nick Simone had such a close and 'together' relationship before your wedding, and how you did everything together during an era when women were separate and segregated; and how that allowed you to make your decision to marry him, and how that situation changed after the wedding, and the sadness that ensued for you.
I recall your drinking, and the pain and separateness that it caused - for all of us. But now, in my 70's, with my own "age" and life struggles around me...I understand so much better. And I give you my apologies for the coldness I gave you thru those times/years. The chasm of 'age' in this life and the loneliness and pain it engenders...is sad, beyond words. If only I could hold you one more time and ask your forgiveness for my ignorance of youth.
One last thing; I ache every time I think of all your birthdays that I did not celebrate with you as you so deserved. I am sorry. But today - on your hundredth birthday...I salute and hug you with all that I am. I miss you with a vengeance that will follow me thru forever. And I look forward to meeting you in our future - wherever and whenever that may be.
Happy hundred dearest Me-Mere. Love and kisses forever.
Renee C Arcuri was born on June 22, 1921. She died on October 18, 1998 at 77 years of age.
https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/renee-c-arcuri-birth-1921-death-1998/9094689htt
Danielle
Nature prevails....for infinity
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