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Do you remember the comic strip, Cathy? It was drawn by Cathy Guisewite and ran in newspapers from 1976-2010. The mother/daughter relationship was a frequent topic in the cartoon, and my favorite punchline from Guisewite is this: “Funny how much better we understand the Jell-O when we’ve seen the mold.” Of course, we are molded by more than just our mothers, so today I remember six people who influenced the person I am today.
Rose Kleiner was my mom. She was very effective in the world. She got things done. She ran our four-person household with ease. Even a winter day with frozen pipes in the kitchen did not faze her. She cooked dinner as usual, but washed dishes in the bathroom. She let stresses like frozen pipes “roll off her back.” Her most often stated beliefs were that “it’s always something,” and that in life there was “never a dull moment.” Mom and I sometimes butt heads because I took an emotional slant on all issues while she took a practical one. I am beginning to see that as the main-momma for my kids and grandkids, strength is a good image to project.
My folks, Rose and Morrie Kleiner
Morrie Kleiner was my dad. He was a marshmallow of a man, famous for the “love squeezes” he gave his grandkids. He was a hugger, not a fighter, and his sweetness was loved by all. Dad had a blood disorder that caused him to need transfusions regularly. When the problem started, those transfusions occurred every few months. Towards the end of his life, they were every couple of weeks. Picc lines, visiting nurses, blood draws, etc. were a big part of his life, yet he never complained. Instead he said, “Everyone has something. This is mine.”
I tend to smoosh their philosophies together to come up with my own notion. Not only is it always something, but if it weren’t this it would be something else, so deal with the situation at hand, and be happy it’s not something worse.
Mary Willick was my maternal grandmother. That one time I ran away from home at age six, I went to her house, exactly one mile away. From elementary school through my first job as a college graduate, I often went to her house for lunch – a plateful of potato latkes, and milk served in a coffee cup. I adored the woman. She was the one I turned to when I dropped out of that too-far-away-from-home first college. I was afraid of what everyone would say. Her advice? Take what others say “to foot.” Listen to them politely, and then walk away.
Here I am with my bubbie, Mary Willick
Auntillie was my dad’s sister. She was a people person extraordinaire. They say there are only six degrees of separation between individuals, but that wasn’t true for Auntillie. She not only knew everyone, but she stayed in touch with everyone. In my mind’s eye, she is sitting at her kitchen table, hands poised above her Royal typewriter, composing letters to loved ones out of town. I once asked her how to stay in touch with a relative who was a pain in the rear. This person never called me, yet when I called her, I couldn’t get off the phone. Did I really need to hear – in detail – about this relative’s hairdresser’s sister-in-law? Auntillie told me it was indeed important to call that relative! Just not very often.
Here I am with beloved Auntillie
It is validating to note that both of these family members – women who were greatly loved and admired – had a game plan for difficult people. Smooshing their philosophies together, I allow myself to walk away when necessary, while never walking completely out of range.
Sylvia Eckert was my mother-in-law. OK, so we didn’t always get along, but I think of her often because of that day, long ago, when I was newly married to her son. She stopped by my house to ask if I wanted to join her and my father-in-law in going to the deli for lunch. I turned her down! My plan for the afternoon was to wash the kitchen floor! She calmly explained that the kitchen floor would always be there to wash, while an invitation to do something fun was not always available. I liked that philosophy – and the bagel, cream cheese, and lox I ate that day.
My long-ago lunch partners, Sylvia and Sol Eckert
My grandparents and my fellow candy-eaters
My grandpa, Sam Willick, was another purveyor of joy. Grandma and Grandpa’s duplex was only four or five houses away from the corner market, which had a counter full of penny candies. After Friday night dinners at their house, Grandpa would reach into his pocket and pull out what seemed like a HUGE handful of change. My cousins, brother, and I were allowed to take it all, and spend it all, and eat all that candy…as long as we also bought the evening newspaper for Grandpa.
Both stories are wonderful reminders to find the JOY in the JOurneY.
It is said that you become who you hang out with, and indeed, these people have molded the person I am today. Dealing with life. Dealing with others. Recognizing and appreciating the joy in each day. I am proud to live by their example.
*****
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Lorie. I always enjoy reading your blog. But this one really got to me. Seeing all of these people from my childhood brought tears to my eyes. You did have a wonderful loving family and I am grateful to have been witness to the day to day Who knew we were so lucky growing up! Thanks for sharing!😍
Judy! So good to hear from you. Other readers will want to know you lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Willick, so you were one house closer to Ray’s Deli with its penny candies. Thanks for being a part of my wonderful childhood! Hugs to you. Lorie
Lorie, I absolutely love this post! So much wisdom provided with so much love — how fortunate you have been to have these “influencers” in your life. My favorites: “It’s always something;” “Everyone has something. This is mine;” and “take it to foot.”
Your parents’ philosophies remind me of my own “You don’t always get what you want in life, and you don’t always want what you get. But what you get is what you’ve got. So deal with it.” But I will be adding “to foot” to my list of “coping quotes.” It’s brilliant!
Hi Rose. I love your parents’ teaching. A version of “what you get is what you got” is what we tell all the grandkids at birthday parties when they think they want a different piece of cake!!!!
We are indeed lucky! I am a proud, card carrying member of this clan, and the influencing continues…in you!! Thanks for being an influencer in so many lives (including mine)! “IT’S always something!“, but…also, “THERE’S always something”…of which to be appreciative!! I appreciate you!
Great lesson: Always something of which to be appreciative. For me, FOUR people commenting on this blog is worthy of appreciation! Thank you all!!!
Lorie, this post made me think lovingly about so many people in my past, especially my Grandfather Lawler who always enouraged positive thinking and my dad who always said, ” It doesn’t cost anything to be nice to people.” Did you tell me once that Aunt Tillie was a librarian?? I feel like I remember that. Oh, and then there was my Great-Aunt Birdie who was a quilter. Maybe that inspired me? She taught me to embroider when I was 10 and I still love doing French knots!
Sharon the librarian, you have a great memory! Indeed Auntillie was an elementary school librarian in St. Louis. I am glad this caused you to remember your loved ones and all their wise words. Take good care…