In the spirit of addressing my identity
crisis, I think a brief primer is necessary. For those of you unfamiliar with
the story, (which was written with great care not to tip 500 words), it may
help explain my confused start! For those that know the story (there are a lot
of you) I have to admit, it is my go to ice breaker in social situations. Yes,
in fact, I am painfully shy in real life. “Real life?” you may ask. Yes, you
know…the one where you leave your keyboard and have to talk to real people…not just
the characters and voices in your mind. Or maybe I am just socially inept, or
indecisive, or maybe it’s a birth order malady…you decide.
The Novena
Do I
believe in miracles? I’m a practicing Catholic; practicing though rarely getting it right! Still, in a recent prayerful
moment, I realized, of course I believe! I am
a miracle, as are all children; some come with a story. This one is partially
mine, but mostly Mom’s.
Instead of a
carefree adolescence, Mom suffered medical nightmares. By age sixteen, her
reproductive system had broken down. She endured irregular periods, a ruptured fallopian
tube and ovary, significant uterine scarring from cyst removals and a re-suspended
uterus. It was 1942.
Her
doctor was kind; his news was not. “Louise, these troubles accumulate…you understand
you’re incapable of carrying to term?”
“No
children?”
“No,
sweetheart.” She understood.
Absolutely
devastated, Mom accepted her fate, doing what any good Italian Catholic girl
would do! She began a novena to the Blessed Mother. Her faith was immeasurable;
she promised that if she could be a
mother, specifically to a little girl, she would name her Mary.
Mom honored
her novena; a simple petition repeated over many years in prayer. She studied
hard, was a dutiful daughter, and began a career as an RN. Eventually, she met a
handsome, hilarious man; one who wanted a big family! Despondently, she informed
him that wouldn’t be possible for
her.
“I can’t
have children, Owen.”
“I love you,
Whiz. We’ll find a way.”
You see, he
also had faith, and eternal optimism. They married in 1951. Shortly after making their
vows, Mom miscarried. They grieved deeply,
but as their anguish lessened, devotion to her novena increased. After all, they
had conceived.
With sheer
elation, on December 10, 1952, Mom delivered a sweet little boy. He was named
George, after his Dad’s father. To say they were ecstatic would be a gross
understatement!
Imagine
their surprise when 1954 brought a little girl. “‘O’, I don’t want to be greedy…two
is miraculous…but, what if we have another little girl?”
They giggled
then agreed. They needed to cover their asses, or at the very least, Mom’s
novena. Their first precious girl became Mary Ann. A year later Mary Louise emerged;
in 1957, Mary Elizabeth entered on cue; and in 1960, I, Mary Margaret, arrived.
The First Five! George and Mary's! |
Mary Christmas! |
Yet, in
1962, my parents sensed something missing. So, for Christmas they put another girl, a Collie pup, under the tree.
Of course, we named her Mary
Christmas!
By 1969, life
was good. Despite suffering another three miscarriages, our count increased,
when Mary Joan burst into our lives. Dad once
hoped for a football team, but now conceded that a basketball team, with one sub,
wasn’t so bad. He joked about his harem; five little girls now had him and
George wrapped around their pinkies!
George gets another Mary, Mary Joan! |
So…do I believe in miracles? Hell yeah! Most days I even believe in the power of prayer and the sanctity of a novena well prayed. Now, as for confession…
Special note: None of us really jump when
someone calls out “Mary.” But, where report cards were concerned, Mary Tucker
was fine. We just threw them on the table and let Mom and Dad figure that out!
Otherwise, here is a handy legend:
George
= George (Unless reciting “the litany of the saint’s”, as Mom called it. Then he
might have suffered a
"Mary George...!"
Mary
Ann = Annie
Mary
Louise = Louie (though it is some mutation professionally, I think)
Mary
Elizabeth = Bethy
Mary
Margaret = Peggy (The baby of the family)
Mary
Christmas = Chrissy Dog
Mary
Joan = Joni (Our little sister)
This is funny Peg. I think you have a gift for storytelling but I can also see a bit of comedy here in the telling. Have you considered standup? Love Louie
ReplyDeleteDear number 2 daughter of our parents, I spend too much time standing up, and trying to be a stand-up gal...think I'm gonna sit this writing thing out! It's so uncomfortable to stand at the keyboard, although...maybe Paul can build me a typing podium! You are a genius, Lou. I could burn off my RLS while writing...hehe. Love ya, Peg.
DeleteI love this story, and I'm so proud that you were able to whittle it down to 500 words, while allowing your self to shine through. CHEERS my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Chris, I knew I ran a big risk, posting this without my favorite editor taking a few hundred hacks at it first!
DeleteI changed it a bit, and am sure it needs smoothing,
but I wanted to keep...my little blog moving!
(Yes, I am adding a tab for my Seussicality, this rhyming schtick's now a full banality!)
Please stop rhyming brain? This is the worst, ever. It's been since Wednesday.
Happy Monday! Are you patching this week? Finally headed to PA in a bit. Send my FB page a link if you post this next week!!!
Hugs to the kidlets!
Such a beautiful heart felt story you have shared with everyone and a very warm and caring site or outpouring more like it for everyone MMT, you have such a great gift in the way you share your thoughts with the world and thank you for letting me in. :-)
ReplyDelete