Well, I guess this will be my site to write things to you, Ma. And that's fine with me. I can't believe it's been a month since you've been gone from us. I miss you so very, very much. Raven told me the other day--out of the blue--that she thinks you're still at Victoria House and that we'll be visiting you! And Skylar, in the middle of the girls'graduation, texted John and said 'it's been one month since Angie's been gone.' And it was-they graduated one month to the day you died, June 18th. You would've been so proud of them, in their red caps and gowns! And they moved the tassels from one side to the other, too, like I did in high school. Remember Kathy "the Moose" argued with us that they only did that in college?? HAHA--well, they do it in 8th grade now, Kathy, so THERE!! Skylar's graduating on Thursday! (He better be!!) Then next week-on Tues., my birthday!) we're gonna take them all to Hawaii for 2 weeks! Wish you were coming, too! They haven't stayed at the house yet--you're the only one!! I'm gonna be 54, Ma-can you imagine? I was so blessed to have you for all the years I did! I love you, Ma, and Pa, too. I hope you two are enjoying each other!! Your nieces in Brighton wrote me a horrible letter. I was going to not answer, then I said "WWMD?" What Would Ma Do?? You would've fired one right back, so that's what I did! I'm done with them now, and happier for it! Hope you don't mind too much! I'll be talking to you later, okay? Some day, I'll go to V. House and see everybody. Not just yet, but I will. I love you!!! Me

Ma was a clean-a-holic if there ever was one! You could eat off the floors in our house, any day, any time. She would dry the inside of the washing machine when she was done using it,wash the bottoms of our shoes when we got home from school or work,empty my father's ashtray before he had finished putting out his cigarette..heck, she even wore a hole in the bottom of our oven from all the years of scrubbing it clean! One time, she got it into her head to strip all the paint off the woodwork in the parlor. So, she bought this stuff called 'Strip-Ease' and went to work at it every night til about 1 or 2 in the morning.There wasn't a speck of paint left on that woodwork when she was done! Later, my father and I would wonder whether the fumes from the 'Strip-Ease' helped to make the job more pleasant! She left the bag of innards in her first Thanksgiving turkey (I did the same years later, of course!);she went thru her 'orange' period when everything had to be orange, and if she couldn't buy it that way, she'd spray paint it! She hid Christmas chocolates in the clothes dryer and turned it on, forgetting they were there. And sprayed the last of a bottle of Tabu cologne in the washer..our clothes stunk for weeks! (I still can't stand the smell!) Once, my father sent her to the hardware store for a small piece of wood. He cut her a 2 inch piece to show the guy in the store. She wrote 'a piece of wood like the one I'm carrying' on her shopping list..I guess we weren't supposed to read that list. She would move the coffee table and try to teach me to jitterbug in the parlor..she was GOOD; I was stiff..still am!! Oh, Ma, I'm gonna miss you so much! There are so many memories like this..they make me laugh and make me cry now. But I'll be with you when it's my turn to come Home to Heaven..and, yes, Ma, I'll be sure to take my shopes off before I come inside! I love you with all my heart!!

Rosie, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom's passing. The pictures of her and your family are wonderful. She must of been so proud of you and your family. I went to the Roger Clapp School in Dorchester with you when we were kids and I happened to come across your mom's obituary. Again I'm sorry about the death of your mom and please find comfort in all the wonderful memories of your beloved mom. Sincerely, Ken Gaston