Master's Pursuit

Mom- My mother was the glue that held it all together. She was a homemaker until I was an early teen and she went back to work. Dinner was always on the table and the laundry done. She taught me how to "shop til you drop" and shop on a budget. She "forced" me to join her in homemaking duties, including starting most meals after school when she went back to work. I resented peeling potatoes and all the rest of it, even into my early marriage. Thankfully now I am SO mature and am grateful for her influence. She still is the stable presence with steady emotions. It counters my Dad's impatience beautifully.

Dad- My dad is a hard worker. He spent my early years as a State Trooper and later moved into sales where he was very successful. I have a lot of my father's personality in me. There is a social confidence that suddenly comes over me in group settings where I feel the need to make people laugh. That's my Dad. He was the academic scholar and the one who helped with homework. He sang "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea" and tickled us on the living room floor as we watched football. One of my favorite memories is being in the back of our custom van for family trips. We listened to Ray Stevens on the 8-track player...over and over! With him in the drivers seat, typically at night, I felt safe and secure deep in my sleeping bag next to my two brothers. My dad is still looking out for me, even as an adult. Even more, he has extended that care and protection to my children.

Big Brother- We lived out of town a bit with no neighborhood kids readily available to play with so my brother Tim was my primary playmate. We built forts in the back woods, played down by the creek,created a world of our own with Fisher Price people and Match Box cars and spent hours in the large sandbox behind the shed. He was my protector and at times my tormenter. I miss those carefree days.

All grown up, we are both wrapped up in our own families and don't connect as often as I'd like. He continues to protect as a public safety officer and we occasionally have a good laugh over some of the childhood adventures we shared.

Little Brother- I was 6 when Matthew was born. I didn't want him to have that name because there was a Matthew in my class that wasn't nice. I was overruled. My favorite memories with Matt are of us reading books together in my bed. We read Narnia books and the Wizard of Oz. Counting to 60, we would take turns

tickling each others' back. I would count REALLY slowly when it was my turn and he didn't know any better. He did eventually catch on to this and hasn't let me forget it. Matt was spoiled as the baby of the family. As much as I resented that, I could never stay irritated for long. Everyone loves Matt. I really miss him, living several states away.

I can't keep this to five and only list one of this important couple.

My Aunt Sis and Uncle Lloyd were so influential. They lived right next door. My best memories are looking through Sissy's jewelry box and having her tell me about all the treasures inside and who they were from. I know this is why I have such an interest in our family's history today. Now she spends time like this

with my daughter and taught my son to crochet. They took us to walk the Mackinac Bridge and she taught me how to cover the toilet seat with toilet paper so I wouldn't get diseases. I loved coming off the bus for a few Brach's candies out of the blue glass candy dish. Uncle Lloyd would be the one to pick me up from school if I felt sick when both Mom and Dad worked. I remember sleep-overs and having homemade strawberry jam on English Muffins for breakfast. I can picture it all like it was yesterday; the warm butter puddling in the muffin holes, the clear plastic cover protecting the table cloth, the country blue dishes, how he always sat with his leg crossed and called me "Babe". I remember how my heart broke in two as he became so sick with cancer and left us. I sure wish my children could have met him.