MEMORIES OF MOM

(From my brother, Steve, to his kids)

We met the day your mom was moving out of an apartment she rented with a girlfriend of hers.  It was a Sunday afternoon and I was leaving my apartment just across a walkway. Regina was leaving her former apartment with a few things she left during the day of moving-out the day before. As I was locking up my apartment, which was nothing but a studio apartment like the one she was living in, I first saw your mom.

 

We just said hello and her girlfriend also said hi. It was the first time we all really met because I kept weird hours. I went to school in the evening at Mermec Community College and then started my shift there as a security guard on the midnight shift. So that meant I slept during the day. Your mom and her girlfriend just saw me coming and going and thought I was a cop.

 

Regina did not have a car so her girlfriend was going to take her to mom and dad’s house on Sunshine. She asked me if I was going to go that way, so she could get a ride with me and her girlfriend did not have to drive her. I decided to take her home and that was our first moment together. I drove this old green 1959 Chevy with large fins and lots of chrome. It was a dog but it was all I could afford.

 

During our ride home, we talked about the war, drugs, being on our own, my job etc. I did mention to her I was going on a date with a girl named Betty who I used to date for a few weeks when I was home on leave, some 2 years ago. I just started dating her again after I got home and she broke her engagement with a guy to go out with me. This night was special because it was Betty’s 21st birthday. I was taking her out to a nice restaurant and dancing. Betty thought I was going to pop the question that night but getting married was not really on my mind.

 

When we talked, your mom asked me if I ever needed a date, I could call her up. She put her phone number on a match cover and I put it on the dash. I never thought I would need the match cover again. I thought she was nice and she was cute but I thought she was too young. However, if I needed a date sometime, I left the match cover on the dash with a lot of other stuff.

 

I did not know this, but when your mom got to your grandpa’s house, she called her friend and told her she met the man she was going to marry. Mom said she fell in love with me right away. Yea right!  I always let her say that but you have to know what she did next.  

 

A few weeks went by and I moved away to an apartment in Richmond Heights. I pass it by, all the time, when I go to grandma’s house. It is in view when I get ready to go over Manchester road and Belleview. I think about mom now whenever I go that way. Hell, that is only one of the many things that remind me of your mom. I called the number a few weeks later or maybe a month or so and tried to get a date with your mom. Hell, I forgot to tell you I broke up with Betty the night I met your mom. I tried to get a little bit more than Betty wanted to give that night and well I just was an ass. Damm, when I think about this, it still make me think she still has my record collection.  

 

Mom (Gina she liked to be called) was out of town. She went to Dallas to marry a guy she had been writing for over a year, who was in Vietnam. She just took off to meet the parents of this guy. I left out he came to St. Louis to introduce himself first. Now, remember the line I told you about just up a few inches up, yes, she was in love with me from the very first look! It is a good line anyway and she did call her friend so I guess it has some truth to it.

 

A few weeks later, I paid a good 20 dollars to go to a dance at a fancy restaurant in St. Charles, Missouri. The dance was put on by a union of a friend of mine, John Ruzicka, who was going out with a girl who lived in mom’s neighborhood. The girl,  I asked, dumped him at the very last minute, well, 2 days because I did the same thing to her a couple of weeks earlier. I guess what comes around goes around. I needed a date quick and heck, I did not know a lot of women anymore. Most of the gals I dated now were married or in college. I called Mom’s number out of sheer desperation. I could not loose 20 bucks and a good time.

 

Well, your mom was back from Dallas and not married. I picked her up two days before the dance and we went to Ted Drews and just for a ride. I guess you can say that was our first date. We really hit it off right away and even though it was about 3 in the afternoon, we kissed by a large tree in Carondelet Park. Hey, it was only a peck -  just a little ‘hit and miss’ kiss.  

 

For some reason Ruzicka picked up Regina and brought her to my sister’s (Carole) house in dog town. I had my car there and that is where they all showed up. We went to the dance and had a ball; a great time and I really liked your mom a lot from that night on. She went back to my apartment that night to see what I recall saying “Come Up To See My Etchings”. It was a stupid line and one that I said with my tongue in check.

 

I do remember one thing that happen that night that almost make me stop taking out your mom right away. She was using my phone and I had to go to the bathroom. She called her friend and they talked about the night at the dance. The walls were so thin in that place, I could hear what she was saying, while I was on the throne. Heck, I put my newspapers down and listened in. WHAT WAS THIS SHE SAID? NO WAY, I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT SHE JUST TOLD HER GIRLFRIEND!!! She told her girlfriend “This is definitely the guy I am going to marry”. She went on to say, I really love this guy and he does not know it yet but we are going to get married!!!

 

I came out of the bathroom, after my paperwork was done, and told her I heard what she said. She just looked at me and said, “Well, it is true, I love you and we will get married”. I FROZE, and looked blinded like a dear just before he gets hit, (been there and done that now).

 

I was not sure what to think from that point on.  I really liked her but the marriage thing and how she just stated it scarred me. I was not ready for a wife and everything that goes with it. She really put a rope on me and led me away. I did love her from that day on but love has responsibilities. I was not ready but I did not want to stay away from her. I was crazy about her then and I still love her so very much!