Of no consequence, skip reading this: So many "if onlys"... In the spring after my mother died of cancer after months of agony, I got a job in construction thanks to my dad, who was a...

rumitoid

In the spring after my mother died of cancer after months of agony, I got a job in construction thanks to my dad, who was a building inspector for NYC, you know how that works. It was an office renovation in Brooklyn, directly adjacent to The Catholic News. (Every movie I wanted to see as a kid was weighed by my mother by their code of A-D. My twelve year old craving to see The Fifty Foot Woman was crushed by this heinous invention.) But the Catholic News next door in this instance ended up offering a wild desire.

The office I was working in had a window that was inches from the building next door; I could cross over without a thought. This one moment I glanced over and there was this very attractive, flowing red-haired young women. She smiled. I was done. And she's a Catholic!

I got off at 4, she got off at 5; I waited. This still blows my mind fifty years later that Mary broke in this great smile and ran to me. Not what I expected; I was very self-conscious at the time. But it took that first and one embrace to seal our fate.

I walked her home that day, how long it actually took I have no memory. Finding myself on the porch of her two story home was like being woken from the dream-like walk we had. Her family had been a little bit worried she was late and all gathered at the door. Her two younger sisters rushed to hug her, a big plus in my view. Her parents were welcoming and gracious. Her older brother was menacing. We gave a little hug and I left--t***sformed but I did not yet realize it.

Her older brother and I had the predictable duel that was natural and expected back then. John Wayne rules. We sat on the porch drinking beers at like 10 at night. He is Brooklyn and I am Bronx: we know what comes next. My heart was not really into this fight and that seemed true for Mary's brother, even though he landed the best owies. We shook hands afterwards, no hugs, yet I felt he respected me. I was not a WestSide fluff.

We made plans for a May wedding. Haha, the delay from NOW NOW NOW made us giggle, and sometimes mope. She was still working for the Catholic News. I can't recall her exact title at the time but it was like executive editor. Sometimes she had to stay late. That k**led her. A mugging in the subway and the k**ler never caught. Another life for me ended there. Who knows? But those memories of her remain a sweetness and comfort.

Smedley_buzkill

rumitoid wrote:

In the spring after my mother died of cancer after months of agony, I got a job in construction thanks to my dad, who was a building inspector for NYC, you know how that works. It was an office renovation in Brooklyn, directly adjacent to The Catholic News. (Every movie I wanted to see as a kid was weighed by my mother by their code of A-D. My twelve year old craving to see The Fifty Foot Woman was crushed by this heinous invention.) But the Catholic News next door in this instance ended up offering a wild desire.

The office I was working in had a window that was inches from the building next door; I could cross over without a thought. This one moment I glanced over and there was this very attractive, flowing red-haired young women. She smiled. I was done. And she's a Catholic!

I got off at 4, she got off at 5; I waited. This still blows my mind fifty years later that Mary broke in this great smile and ran to me. Not what I expected; I was very self-conscious at the time. But it took that first and one embrace to seal our fate.

I walked her home that day, how long it actually took I have no memory. Finding myself on the porch of her two story home was like being woken from the dream-like walk we had. Her family had been a little bit worried she was late and all gathered at the door. Her two younger sisters rushed to hug her, a big plus in my view. Her parents were welcoming and gracious. Her older brother was menacing. We gave a little hug and I left--t***sformed but I did not yet realize it.

Her older brother and I had the predictable duel that was natural and expected back then. John Wayne rules. We sat on the porch drinking beers at like 10 at night. He is Brooklyn and I am Bronx: we know what comes next. My heart was not really into this fight and that seemed true for Mary's brother, even though he landed the best owies. We shook hands afterwards, no hugs, yet I felt he respected me. I was not a WestSide fluff.

We made plans for a May wedding. Haha, the delay from NOW NOW NOW made us giggle, and sometimes mope. She was still working for the Catholic News. I can't recall her exact title at the time but it was like executive editor. Sometimes she had to stay late. That k**led her. A mugging in the subway and the k**ler never caught. Another life for me ended there. Who knows? But those memories of her remain a sweetness and comfort.

In the spring after my mother died of cancer after... (show quote)

Happens all the time. Innocent people k**led by asswipes who are never caught. Since I am not an atheist, I take comfort in the fact that the wheels sometimes grind slower than we like, but they do get the job done. I hope you get some closure. Too often the perp gets what's coming to him and you never know.

keepuphope Loc: Idaho

rumitoid wrote:

In the spring after my mother died of cancer after months of agony, I got a job in construction thanks to my dad, who was a building inspector for NYC, you know how that works. It was an office renovation in Brooklyn, directly adjacent to The Catholic News. (Every movie I wanted to see as a kid was weighed by my mother by their code of A-D. My twelve year old craving to see The Fifty Foot Woman was crushed by this heinous invention.) But the Catholic News next door in this instance ended up offering a wild desire.

The office I was working in had a window that was inches from the building next door; I could cross over without a thought. This one moment I glanced over and there was this very attractive, flowing red-haired young women. She smiled. I was done. And she's a Catholic!

I got off at 4, she got off at 5; I waited. This still blows my mind fifty years later that Mary broke in this great smile and ran to me. Not what I expected; I was very self-conscious at the time. But it took that first and one embrace to seal our fate.

I walked her home that day, how long it actually took I have no memory. Finding myself on the porch of her two story home was like being woken from the dream-like walk we had. Her family had been a little bit worried she was late and all gathered at the door. Her two younger sisters rushed to hug her, a big plus in my view. Her parents were welcoming and gracious. Her older brother was menacing. We gave a little hug and I left--t***sformed but I did not yet realize it.

Her older brother and I had the predictable duel that was natural and expected back then. John Wayne rules. We sat on the porch drinking beers at like 10 at night. He is Brooklyn and I am Bronx: we know what comes next. My heart was not really into this fight and that seemed true for Mary's brother, even though he landed the best owies. We shook hands afterwards, no hugs, yet I felt he respected me. I was not a WestSide fluff.

We made plans for a May wedding. Haha, the delay from NOW NOW NOW made us giggle, and sometimes mope. She was still working for the Catholic News. I can't recall her exact title at the time but it was like executive editor. Sometimes she had to stay late. That k**led her. A mugging in the subway and the k**ler never caught. Another life for me ended there. Who knows? But those memories of her remain a sweetness and comfort.

In the spring after my mother died of cancer after... (show quote)

I'm sorry Rum yes hold on to her precious memory and be thankful you had her even if it was a short time. Not everyone finds that.

rumitoid

Smedley_buzk**l wrote:

Happens all the time. Innocent people k**led by asswipes who are never caught. Since I am not an atheist, I take comfort in the fact that the wheels sometimes grind slower than we like, but they do get the job done. I hope you get some closure. Too often the perp gets what's coming to him and you never know.

True, and I hope you are right.

rumitoid

keepuphope wrote:

I'm sorry Rum yes hold on to her precious memory and be thankful you had her even if it was a short time. Not everyone finds that.

You are so right. Thank you.