My mother was a strong woman, but also one of the sweetest, most endearing people you would ever want to know. She never got over the guilt of Peter leaving - that she didn’t raise him - that she missed out on his youth and his growing into a man. She loved her children very much but couldn’t do battle with her husband. They had a love-hate relationship for 40 years. However, she finally was able to reconcile her issues with Dad within herself, and had five or so very blessed and happy years before she died.

Mom was always tuned into me. She and my grandmother were always a step ahead of me, always worried about me. Their constant and unqualified love for me is what got me through some very difficult times. Mum was the glue of the family. Holidays were amazing because she made them that way. Since she passed away, I have lost my interest in any of that stuff. Whether it was the Fourth of July or Christmas, Mum would have the whole living area decorated with all of the festive regalia. Halloween and Christmas were her favorite holidays.

The last several years that my mother could travel, she and Dad returned to Eastport each summer for the Fourth of July. Eastport continues to host a doll carriage parade and contest where the children roll their doll carriages down the street fully decorated. That's something Mum remembered as a little girl. There must have been something about her childhood there that was very charming. The last time she visited Eastport/Calais was about 10 years ago and she still recognized houses she knew as a child. And she remembered families that had lived there. In fact, my folks had even considered buying one of the old homes and returning.