Three Important People in My Life

 

     When I think about important people in my life three people come to mind and by coincidence they all happen to be women; my grandma Mary, my mom Sandra, and my wife Frances. Each is unique in their own way.

     My grandma Mary has been the teacher in my life. When I was three years old she and my grandfather began taking care of me and my brother because my parents weren’t able to. Grandma began teaching me how to cook when I was very young, maybe about nine or so. She thought if I learned how to cook I would never starve. I learned how to cook full course meals and I was and still am good at it. Even after twenty-nine years my wife is still amazed at how well I cook. I also learned how to clean and do laundry. She didn’t want me to have to depend on anyone to do it for me. Besides the basic things such as right from wrong, she taught me how I should treat a lady. She wanted me to be a gentleman at all times. She expected me to open the door for a lady, never use foul language when in a woman’s presence and that sort of stuff. I think I did well by her. Of course there are many important things about her but being a teacher is just one of them.

     My mom Sandra is important not just because she is my mom but because she showed me people can change. When I was just a toddler she got into a life of crime and drugs and ended up in prison. Even when she finally got it drugs were still a problem for her. I was in my late teens already by the time she got out so she really didn’t have the opportunity to resume parenting. I saw her going down the same path that landed her in prison in the first place and then all of a sudden she wanted no more of that life. She cut off all ties to the people who were toxic in her life. She quit her drug use and started to become a positive influence on me and my brother. She got a job and eventually remarried. She’s still married to my stepdad and only recently had to stop working because of health issues. Her life went from one extreme to another and when it was my turn to decide to quit using drugs, I looked to her. I knew if she could change so could I and I did.

     Lastly, my wife Frances has been an important part of my life because she is my heart; she keeps me on an even keel. When you see us together you could see we are complete opposites of each other; I’m loud and boisterous while she is quiet and demure. But even while being demure she is a strong woman. She stuck by me through my days of drug addiction and life of crime. She believed in me even in the most trying of times. She pretty much raised our kids all by herself because I was always locked up or running around in the streets. And she did a great job. Our kids, thank God, grew up to be responsible adults. Both have professional careers just like their mom. My wife reminds me that I too deserve to be happy in life. She inspires me every day.