It has been more than three months since my dear Mommy passed away. It is still difficult to realize that I cannot hug her, kiss her and tell her how much I love her. She was a complex human being who lived life fully. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and aunt, etc. She loved family and overlooked and forgave painful hurts from those closest to her. In many circumstances she was misunderstood by family and friends alike, and suffered for her individualism. I remember asking her why we didn't live in a house in the United States. I asked her if it was because we were too poor to buy one. She chastised me and said the word "poor" ought to be used with care because those who were really poor did not have a roof over their head nor did they know where their next meal would come from. She told me that twice Daddy wanted to buy a house and each time she told him no! She dreamed of raising her children in Haiti amongst their relatives. It seems like such a contradiction because she loved America, especially New York. She told me about their first apartment in the Bronx. It was roomy and had windows in every room. She said the sun-filled rooms brought her such happiness. She remember Daddy singing to her, "Manon voici le soleil" (Manon, look at the sunrise) from an opera I have yet to identify. Although she was happy there, she convinced my Dad to go back to Haiti two years after I was born. My sister Doris was an infant at the time. We spent six years in Port-au-Prince, where my Dad brought a house in a section called "Bois Verna" (Verna Forest). We returned to New York and the rest is history.
When I reflect on what I know of Mommy and Daddy, I am perplexed as to why one would say that "we didn't have a lot"? We had all the material trappings of a middle class family in the 50s. We had a black & white TV, a washing machine that my Dad bought for Mommy. We were sent to the best private parochial schools in New York. We vacationed in Haiti every four years during summer vacations. We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving dinner every November. My dear Mommy took us to the Macy's Parade every year and we never missed the Easter Parade, dressed in the beautiful dresses that she sewed for Doris, Jessie and me. William was always dressed to the nines and so was Mommy. We were lucky enough to go to The Beatles' 1st concert at Shea Stadium. Who could ask for more? She always had an event for us to attend, like the Rodeo at Madison Sq Garden, the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey circus. I fondly recall our numerous outings to the Bronx Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, picnics in the park, trips to Orchard Beach, Coney Island and Rockaway. I clearly remember that every Christmas "Santa Claus" gave me exactly what I wanted from my list. Daddy gave me a weekly allowance to teach me the value of money. It took me awhile to act on it but " better late than never". Although Daddy was an Accountant by profession, he drove a taxi in New York to support his family. He said that he never considered buying a car because he drove a cab all day and did not want to continue driving during his leisure time. Anyway he told Mommy "if I can't buy you a Mercedes Benz, I'd rather not buy you anything" LOL He made the decisions not to buy a house or a car not because he couldn't afford it but because it was a choice he made, for better or for worse.
I will always cherish those memories. I am so grateful to Mommy and Daddy for the sacrifices they made in giving us the best childhood, one filled with love and abundance.
