MOM

This is my mother, Patricia Calahan. She was born and raised in Oklahoma. She had a brother, Gene (recently passed away), who was 11 years older, and she has a sister, Sue (living in Abeline), who is 10 years older. My mom had a lot of strange pets as a kid, including a crow.

This is her high school picture. She dropped out early to marry my dad before he joined the Marines. She then became a Bridges. They lived all over the country depending on where my Dad was stationed.

Here she is with my shelty, Sandy. Sandy passed on about five years ago. Sandy lived about 16 years and was with me through many tough times when I couldn't (wouldn't) be helped by people.

Me and Mom in the late 80's. I love and respect my Mom so much! She really had a rough life ( especially after I entered it )( i was an accident ). We lived in Plano, Texas when my parents separated. I was nine. I remember it all so vividly ( damn, I thought that i'd killed those brain cells :). She had never worked before and had to get out and get a job! One job wasnt enough to pay the bills so she worked full-time during day & worked another job every night. My oldest brother, Paul, had moved out shortly after the divorce leaving me, Tony, & my mom. When mom was home, she was completely exhausted. I never really knew just how hard she was working. She still had to try to keep my brother Tony from beating the crap out of me all the time (boy, did he love puttin on the pain).

We couldn't afford to live in the larger house any longer on the good side of town, and had to sell it. We then moved to the other side of town in which I refer to as funky town, where I spent a lot of time inside. I was a minority and had my ass kicked many times. I was too scared to leave the house!

Tony moved out when I was around eleven. Mom was working so hard, yet she still couldn't afford the things that I was accustomed to before the divorce. I rebelled when I was twelve and left her to live with my Dad, who had remarried, and was living in Laguna Hills, CA.

While living with my Dad, I got in a lot of trouble in the ninth grade after dislocating my right shoulder during a football game. I was told by the doc that I wouldn't be able to play any longer. Sports were my life!

That's when I really put fear into my Mom. I ditched school for over a month before getting caught. When punished, I ran away -- over and over again. I lived on the streets for a long period; sleeping in parks, tennis courts, peoples homes. I was livin off drug deals, and partyin was all I cared about. There were times when my Mom didn't know if I was alive. Living so far away, she felt so helpless. All she could do was pray and wait for the phone calls. :( I'm sorry, Mom! I'm ALL BETTER now!!

I went to her house a few years ago with a lot of questions. We talked (and listened) for hours. I learned so much about her that day. No judgement, no blame. Just sharing our feelings with each other. We both released a lot of baggage that day. Our relationship was raised to a level that I'd never known with anyone before. I realized that I had never really known her before that day. That talk with her is what made me change the way I look at people & experiences. I released so much that day! We both cried that day. We shared! I opened up. I'm strong now because of my mom.

She is strong. She has a nonwaivering faith in God. She does anything she can to help anyone in need, and she is wise.

After the things that I have lived through, I have learned to appreciate people and not take relationships for granted.

MOM

I love you Mom!

Click below for more pictures & history.

Grandma & Grandpa Bridges

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