Memories With Mom on Her Birthday

Cheers Mom!

When I was little, my mom used to take me to the Woodbridge Mall and we would always get some grub at a place called Friendly’s. It’s kinda sorta like a diner but they are famous for their ice cream. I used to get a burger, and if I finished it ...she would allow me to get a hot fudge sundae. It would be black raspberry ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry. All served in a silver/pewter chalice like dish. That’s how they did it then. It’s etched into my mind crystal clear.

Man, those days were great. We used to frequent that mall often. At first my mom and I would go alone. I’d tag along with her doing her normal shopping at JC Penny’s. If I was well behaved and not a little penis, she would let me pick out a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure at KB Toys. If on the rare occasion we didn’t get food at Friendly’s...we were chowing down at Chic-Fil-A where I would get an Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chip muffin to bring home for later. I remember these days so vividly. We spent a lot of time at that mall.

An oldie of my sister Michele, a young baby Blewitt, my mom, and my sister Marcia.

As I got older, I was able to bring a friend. Usually my buddy and neighbor Pete, who I’m glad to say is still one of my dear friends. This mall is where we got our family dog Foxy. She was my angel and is what started my love of pups. I miss her greatly.

This mall is also where my buddy Pete almost got jumped and almost got his Starter jacket stolen. It’s where the same Pete used to house 2 whole Cinnabon’s like an absolute animal for no other reason than he just wanted to show that he could. My mom would just drop us off and we would do our own thing. It was a blast and she trusted us...even at a young age.

I remember going to the beauty parlor with my mom. She was a beautician and worked for my Grandma Betty...her mom. She owner the joint. I was real little then but I enjoyed tagging along to work with her. I got tons of attention from all the women coming in to get their hair done up. I even got snacks (gum) from the newsstand across the street.

Mom & Dad enjoying a night out.

I had bad growing pains in my legs as a kid. Excruciating...or I was a giant pussy. Either way, mom used to sit next to me and literally rub my legs until she calmed me down and I fell asleep.

Her favorite show was a soap opera called All My Children. I even watched it with her when I would stay home from school if I was sick. I told you I was a giant pussy.

My sister Marcia, my sister in law and dear friend Liz who sadly passed away several months back, my smoking hot mom, Liz’s mom, aaaaannd I forget.

She gave me her old car...a white Chevy Cavalier with blue interior. That was my first car and how I got around in high school. Had a ton of fun in that car. It was known as the car that had random shit inside as to fuck with people. I was super disorganized...even back then, and after school on the drive home we would just throw random shit at our friends cars. Pennies. A sock. Anything really...truly unsafe now that I think about it. Anyway...getting off track here.

Mom. I always enjoyed her chicken and rice she’d make. It seemed simple and I have tried to replicate it several times in the past, but it never quite came out the way she made it.

She always let me have friends over. Be it one of the Pete’s, Brendan, Clark, Steve, Brian...it didn’t matter. Someone was always sleeping over and she was ok with it. She was great and kind to my friends. Always made sure the fridge was stocked with not only enough food for us kids, but for our friends who were always over. She was also slightly clueless.

I remember one night, I had to be around 15 or 16. My buddy Brendan was staying the night but not before we went with my older siblings to a party at a friends house. Brendan and I got pretty hammered and I specifically recall me telling him to not act weird if my mom was up when we got home. Well, of course we get in after being all bombed up and my mom is right there. This is probably one of those moments where ya had to be there, but my mom ends up asking Brendan how he was. He froze, stared directly at her, didn’t answer her at all, and just started petting my dog Foxy. Absolutely the most suspicious way to handle it. 😂 I got a decent amount of shit for that one.

Mom gave me an allowance if I did my chores and taught me the responsibility of working hard for something you wanted. My folks would help out once in a while but for the most part, they drove home the idea that if I wanted that $200 Sega CD system...go shovel some snow. Want those expensive comics??? Mow some lawns. I learned a ton from that and am grateful.

She was always kind to the girls I dated. She still to this day tells my wife @reeseshara that she’s beautiful, which still makes my wife blush.

My lovely mother and I.

She seriously considered my strong desire to head out to Columbia College in Chicago. It was great school with a killer film program and it was near my first love, Sarah and my friends from Indiana...all of whom I’m still friends with to this day as well. She heard me out and we all took a trip to Chicago to visit. I ended up not going there but we did consider it. She was fair regarding that situation.

She held me tight as I cried in her arms when my first marriage came to insane demise that Hollywood couldn’t have scripted better. I remember that specific day like it was yesterday and how she just let me sob on her. She just held me tight and said “I wish I could take all your pain away Chris.”

She flew out to Vegas with a group of us and was there to watch her son get married...again...

Myself, sister Marcia, brother in law Dino, wife @reeseshara, and my folks at our wedding in Vegas.

Her and my dad loved to go out to dinner and dancing. They would get all dolled up and my mom looked stunning in a killer gown. She was a real head turner.

Dad & Mom getting ready to turn heads as Dad rounds second base.

Mom would always laugh at my jokes. She was fairly prudish and I was anything but that. My jokes were always dark and borderline offensive. Definitely not PC. She ALWAYS laughed and just shook her head at me. I loved making her laugh. Especially when it was a...rough joke.

What I’m trying to say is that my mom, was pretty damn awesome and I don’t say that often enough. Probably because she’s a shell of her former self. She suffers from several awful debilitating illnesses that have completely stripped her of most of her abilities. Dementia is the biggie and it’s made life extremely challenging for both her and my father who has been her caregiver.

The reason I’m babbling about all of this is because yesterday was her birthday. I believe she turned 68 years young. I popped by my parents place today to say hi and drop off a slice of her favorite cake. She eats like a bird and is so frail now that she needs whatever calories she can get. So fattening cake it is!!!

It was a good day though. She was fairly lucid and was happy to see me. When I walked in, she smiled ear to ear and said “My Son!!!” Several times. I love seeing her on the good days when she is happy. I try to snap pics but sonetimes it can be tough having her focus on the camera nowadays.

Seeing the birthday girl yesterday.

Anyway, happy birthday mom. I love you more than words can express and while I’m bitter for the years that have been unfairly robbed from you, I’m grateful for every second we have had together. You gave me life and made me a better person. I have an entire library of positive memories drilled into my brain for life, and for that...I’m eternally grateful.

Love you mom.

Me