Friday, February 03, 2012















Milford water views. 2400 square feet newly renovated. Sleeps 8 comfortably in 3 double beds and a futon in the livingroom. Three full bathrooms. Three decks. Long Island is across the street. Wetlands promotes bird watching. Public boatramp for boating and fishing. Swimming, shopping, train station to NYC, many restaurants in the area range from hot dog stands to fine dining. Or cook at home on the grill or in the full kitchen. No pets and no smoking. Take a week away, stay here and put your feet up. Cost is $2,000 per week starting on Fridays at 3PM. If interested, call the number in the newspaper ad. Thanks for stopping by.












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When my mother was young and single, she worked at the Larkin Building in Buffalo New York. She was a switchboard operator. A salesman from out in the field called into the main office and called a private line reserved for the president. Mom balled him out. How dare He call that number? When the salesman was in town, He looked up the sassy switchboard operator. That is how Harold met Marguerite. They dated a while, then each married another partner. The four adults were friends their entire life. That is how Aunt Valeria came into my life. She is the lady that married Harold.
Valeria was all sunshine. She was smiles and laughter. She was forgiving for a child's mistake. I loved her like she was my own mother. Valeria used to bring tins of cookies when she visited. By the time the visit was over, all the cookies were gone. My sister and I were on a sugar high.
Valeria and Harold produced a son about my age. We all grew up together. He was like a brother to me. He was wild and free while I was not.
One time, the four adults and three children went to visit Valeria's mother in Lehighton Pa. We took two cars, making our own parade. All three children slept in the same bed.We bounced around like kittens, refusing to go to sleep. The streets in that town were on a hill. It was fun to walk into the front door and be on the second floor. That was the only time I remember taking a trip with my Aunt Valeria and Uncle Harold. Other times, they visited us. All my childhood long, the other couple were a presence. Then they died, one by one. My Dad was the first to go, they Uncle Harold. Mom went next. Valeria hung on. She was so much younger than Harold. Every time I visited in Buffalo, I visited or called on her. She got heavy , but never lost her laughter, her smile. She never complained, even when she lost her only son to cancer. Her grandson was her lifeline then. She could no longer drive. Jeff made sure she had groceries in the house. He paid the utility bills. He drove her to the doctors. Mostly, Valeria did not go out. It was a marvel to see how she coped so well alone. There was no question that Valeria would refuse to live in an assisted living home...and ditto a nursing home. I never saw a sign of depression. I never saw mental decline. The phone rang many times a day...friends checking up on her. She had her three cats to amuse her. She had cable which Jeff paid for. She loved TV programs. Valeria refused help in the house. She did it herself up to age 94. Then Jeff found her on the floor in the hall. She had been there all night. She was taken to the hospital, but they had no reason to keep her there. She didn't break anything. She didn't have an infection, nor cancer nor any medical condition requiring hospitalization. She was just worn out. She was old and tired. Jeff was looking into an assisted living facility for his grandmother. Then, still in the hospital with people thinking of how to handle this situation, she died peacefully, taking one last breath and then ceased breathing.
Some people are treasures to know. I am thankful that I got to spend time with a lady with a laugh and a smile and love to spare a little child not her own.

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