On June 9th, 1935, Gail Maxi Ferrara (aka McClusky to her father), was brought into this world. She was a precocious child whose intellectual curiosity was perhaps only topped by her zest for life. She was a Daddy's girl, no doubt about it. She loved to swim and dance. She loved Georgetown and riding her bike. She loved her family and God. And oh how she loved music and sports.
She played touch football with Gene Kelly; lived across the street from President Roosevelt (Teddy) @ 34th and O; and got rides to school when it rained by Jean Turney's Chauffer driven car.
By all standards Gail grew up too fast when she met a young sailor named Dave Harris and fell in love. Just before her 15th birthday, Gail and Dave ran off to Maryland to be married. After simply lying about her age, they honeymooned at Glen Echo Amusement Park and she had frog legs for the first time at O'Donnell's seafood restaurant in D.C.
While at the Park some schoolmates noticed the ring on her finger and tattled on her to Sister Roberta. When news got back to her father she was promptly kicked out and dropped out of school. (That didn't last long as the first grandson came along less than two years later and all was forgiven.)
Gail started making babies but her natural musical talents, a family tradition, led her to work as a singer for RCA records, working in nightclubs all over Georgetown and DC. By all accounts she was amazing. But family always came first so she gave up the singing career and traveled all over the U.S. following my Dad’s employment opportunities.
The babies kept coming, seven in total, but the marriage failed and Gail found herself with no high school diploma and an ex-husband who was less than forthcoming with consistent financial support. But she was a fighter, she was born that way. So at the age of 47 she got her GED and began classes at the local community college – all while working and raising the remaining children at home.
After mastering her academic performance for her AA she went on to a private college – Mt. St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, MD - and earned her bachelor’s degree. Her achievements were so grand that all the area papers ran stories about her and she was the only graduate of Frederick Community College ever invited back to be the commencement speaker.
Jobs came and went but Gail always found a way to provide, while coaching her children’s championship softball teams I might add. She worked with disabled adults and juvenile “delinquents;” she counseled prisoners and helped fight addiction within the family and without. And just to keep things hopping she also backpacked through Europe … alone.
She made the best spaghetti sauce and eggplant parm on the planet. She loved black truffle butter; angel hair pasta; Jazz, Big Band, and the Standards; Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald; the Washington Redskins; the Orioles and the Nationals; the Ocean; children; California; Video Village; Blackjack; fuzzy socks; Foster's beer; baked brie; Malibu rum and pineapple juice; Al Pacino (va va voom); books; New York thin crust pizza with extra sauce; singing; breakfast; crossword puzzles; playing the Ukele; Rummikub; the atmosphere at a bar during a football game; Boston Legal; getting pizza with her cousins; Ally McBeal; lazy sundays; sushi rolled with rice paper; flirting; her steaks rare; spending time with her family; her grandchildren; Diva from Geneva OPI nail polish; egg foo yung; being on the water in any kind of boat; coffee and a paper in the mornings (especially the USA Today); receiving cards; giving gifts ... God. (feel free to add your own as well)
Gail Maxi Mary Mildred Regina Ferrara Harris was my mother, my friend, my adventure companion, and my greatest love and support. She lived out the last years of her life experiencing all that life had to offer and I was blessed to be by her side and in her heart.
Gail died five weeks to the day after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She left a huge hole in this world but also a legacy of unconditional love; fiery verve; and a heartfelt desire to truly LIVE.
Today I celebrate my Mom and the gift she brought to this earth.
Today I send out all my love to her wherever she is with hope that she is truly happy, truly loved, and truly at peace.
Until Forever Runs Out - Your Nene
Tributes
Leave a tributeYou are more than just with me, I am a reflection of you, the shadow of your smile, an imperfect echo of your joy, the culmination of your life. For that I'll be forever grateful. Love you now and always.
"Your mom was the life of the party!! I always think of her when I have a cadillac marg!! xoxox Jen Prince"
Newest friend in Berkeley Springs, Pat Steers
Leave a Tribute
You are more than just with me, I am a reflection of you, the shadow of your smile, an imperfect echo of your joy, the culmination of your life. For that I'll be forever grateful. Love you now and always.
Mother's Day 2016
Happy Mother's Day Momma
As each year passes I keep hoping that somehow I'll miss you a little less but that just doesn't happen. Today and every day I celebrate the amazing mother that you were. I was beyond lucky to have you in my life. To feel your unconditional love and acceptance. To know, with a certainty beyond anything imaginable, that you would always be there for me. No matter what. You made mistakes, it's childish to think a human being wouldn't, but you never stopped trying and overcoming for us. I hold onto the memory of that love and the adventures we shared. I try to be the person you believed in, the person you loved. I hope that in some small way I reflect to the world even 1/10th of the lessons you taught me. Thank you for being my Mom. Forever your Nene
4 Long Years.
How do I commemorate each year without you? What could I possible say or do or scream or sing that would capture what it feels like to spend every day of my life without you? Should I just post the same pain, the same memories, the same sorrow and the same brief moments of captured joy that keep me going or do I start trying to replace that with something else, something different, something new ..... but that's just it Mom, there is nothing new. That's the problem. I want something new with you. I want new stories to tell and new memories. And if I can't have that then I want pictures I've never seen before, videos of you that I didn't know existed. I want to find a note from you hidden away like a treasure waiting to be discovered. I want new because I've already memorized every photo, every card, every note of your singing. I re-read your stories. I go to Georgetown and re-walk your steps. I sing your songs. I crave something new because I know I'll never be able to create anything new with you ever again and I can't stand that. I hate that. And some of the smaller memories are started to fade, slipping across the sky like wispy clouds riding on some unseen wind - out of my control. And each time I have trouble remembering something small, some gesture or look, your favorite coffee, anything at all, it feels like I'm losing you all over again. I know, I know. You'd tell me that's just silly. You'd say that you lived your life and now I must live mine. You'd say you want me to move on and be happy. You'd tell me to hold onto the happy memories and leave the rest behind. Make you a deal - come say that to my face and I will.
3 Years
3 years. I can't believe you've been gone for three years Mom.. I miss you so much. We toasted you all day yesterday and had margaritas in your honor. I know you would've loved the whole day - I wish we could still have our adventures together. I even climbed up on a piano and sang, pretending for a moment to be you as a youngster, singing in a club in Georgetown. Of course, I was completely drunk and sounded terrible but it was in your honor and I know you would've laughed so hard!
I wish I could tell you all about my life. I wish I could hear you sing Happy Birthday and call me your peanut. I wish so much but more than anything I hope that you are somewhere with the souls you love so much. I hope that Danny is there with you and that Easter isn't a sad day for him anymore. It's hard to have the anniversary of your death and his fall on the same day but I take comfort in my hope that you are together dancing through the stars and playing songs on the sunbeams.
You are thought of every single day and always will be. I carry you in my heart and hear you in my head. You are the smile in my eyes and the giggle on the tip of my tongue. Forever together - no matter what.