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The Abbotts
by: Joanne "Budworm" Abbott
 How to start, what to say....well it
all began with an egg (ahhhh lets save that for another discussion.....at
a much, much, much later date).
What better way
to start but with mom and Dad. Dad the oh so good-looking young
man who stole mom, the blonde bombshells' , heart (literally.....
from 4 other guys,... so the story goes).
Married February
14, 1953. A life was built in the familiar town of Greenfield
Park, a place, to this day, we shall all call home!
Glenn the handsome
first born came to be on July 26th ,1957. Rapture! Joy! A son! Soon
to be followed by Leslie an adorable blonde bundle of joy, March
22, 1960! Rapture! Joy! A girl!
Then surprise!
Surprise! Another boy, Jeffrey an oh so sweet cuddly boy (funny
born with socks), Sept 15, 1961. Rapture!... Joy!... Another
boy!
Two boys and
a girl, great, yet those crazy kids we call mom and dad had yet
another, Joanne, dare I say an oh so cute, adorable, sweet, breathtaking
,bundle and I mean bundle 9 lbs. and counting, born Feb 2,1963.
Rapture!................Joy!...........It ain't a boy!
And then
a pause...
A new arrival!
A sweet, tiny, little girl, Stacey born Sept 26, 1968. Rapture!
Joy! What happened to that boy?
As the years
went on Life was good. A few ups and downs, to be expected with
a family of 7. As a mother of three, life is not a bed of roses
and if it is, there might be a few thorns amongst the sheets......To
me life is like hiking in the mountains....for the most part
very enjoyable, little surprises along the way (a trickling stream,
a waterfall) things that make you happy to be alive .........and
then there is the climb! There are moments of exhilaration, moments
of frustration, on occasion a growling bear and moments of pure
torture! But through all the sweat and sometimes tears, at that
moment when you think you'll never get there, a beautiful alpine
meadow full of color and richness fills you with awe. It is at
that moment life is good! The climb was worth it!
So for all of
us life was good in Greenfield Park. Neighborhood games, neighborhood
bullies, neighborhood weirdos , neighborhood hunks(Wilsons...ahhhhh)
all added to the excitement of life in Greenfield Park. The swimming
lessons and the smell of cornpuffs. Mr Barns lips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The arena and those greasy french-fries. The haunted houses and
paper sales we'll never forget (thought we could fool the young
ones into buying works of art....the jig was up when Mrs. Davis
sent Susie back for a refund...up until then those jack-o-lanterns
were selling like hotcakes!).
The infamous
Donna Perry who prevented the swing set from tipping over with
one lift of a finger (our hero, Big D.). The wrestling matches...where
is Steven and Bobby when you need to kick ass? The Perrys, the
O'Neills, the Baxters, the Connels. The wet diapers in the face.
The feather pillow that exploded with one swift karate kick ....(oh
no! oh no! ). The Saturday morning wake up calls! Sunday night
Walt Disney. The pig and whistle. The blaming of each other for
all waking up to a fuzzy TV screen and no movie.....The hula
dance that will go down in history ( if I've got anything to
do with it ). The spilled milk, the jokes about spilled milk.
The Cuthberts,
the Davis's, the Duncans, the Langs, the Russells. The Beatles,
Queen ,Fox On The Run....Engelbert Humperdink and so on and so
on.
The foam foot
mat that was dedigitated. The line drawn down the middle of the
bed.....daring the other to cross "But Les I sneezed".
Running down the street to meet Dad coming home from work. Brownies,
Girl Guides...Scouts! Pierre Dorea!
The screamers
driving through Bonimart parking lot! Farmers Bridge! The fields
and endless forts. The french/english wars. The Booths, the Nemis's.
Christmas grocery
shopping. Peanut butter and jam sandwiches and chips. Flintstones!
Slowly I turn around..........The rats and the lighthouse story.
Had a doll stuck it on the wall and that's all....a favorite
with Dad.
Seeing mom with
her hair messed. The endless cups of tea. Another World! A visit
to Dads office. Having a cup of tea with Mom.
Beverly Hillbillies,
Mash, Carol Burnett......and the oh so famous Tim Conway episode
that will never be forgotten or Scarlett O'hara and her curtains.
Studying under
the stairs. Leslie's evil stare that still sends shivers down
my spine.....how mean can you be?
Much meaner ....margarine
on a skewer. Trying to wake up Mom from her naps. Moms wake up
calls and tea in the morning. Sunday morning Church and Dunkin
Donuts.
Buying licorice
at the corner store with Stacey.
Concerts at the
forum. The ELO concert that was cancelled.
The list goes
on and on and as I ponder on these events I feel a smile on my
face ...Life was good as a kid.....of course there were some
down periods but as an adult myself , with a family to rear,
there definitely are thorns to deal with and life is not rose
petals alone. I can better appreciate the difficult times.
Yet in spite
of these times .......we have one hell of a family and I am proud
to be part of it. There is no one better that Dad when it comes
to advise and knowing what to do in any situation. And who enjoys
teabiscuits as much as me. Sometimes the smallest things in life
mean so much. When mom is in her silly moods, it would put a
smile on anyone's face. Who has more energy than mom...I know
I sure don't! And who could clear up a table faster than a speeding
bullet? Only one person I know.
Glenn, the executive, fun
loving, always there to make you laugh and generous with his
time and love...my kids will attest to that.
Leslie, the Supermom, a person
to talk to in any situation and someone who will always make
you giggle.
Jeff, the computer whiz,
a sensitive soul , always there to help out when needed and no
one could be as patient, (we inept computer users will attest
to that).
Stacey, the intellect, sensitive
and loving and no one could find a better friend.
Joanne, me, the
quiet one, and one who surely appreciates the wonderful family
she was born into.
So that is a
very brief description of the Abbotts, a family that has stayed
a family and continues to grow closer as each day passes.
Joanne
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