佚名/Anonymous
Mama’.
Whenwewereyoungchildren, mymotherwas, especially, .
’sSouthSide, .At16，shegraduatedfirstinherhigh-schoolclass, wentontosecretarialschool, andfinallyworkedasanexecutivesecretaryforarailroadcompany.
, , herhairwindblown, , Godgaveyoubackyour“bestself”.She’dshowusthatpictureandsay,“ThisiswhatI’mgoingtolooklikeinheaven.”
, , , .
Aftershemarried, mymotherquitherjobandgaveherselftoherfamily.In1950，withthreechildren, .By1958，ourmodestwhitefarmhousewasfilledwithsixchildren, andMamawasdelighted.
-esteemandhelpedusreachourpotential.
Onefallday, .“Yourfatherhasaccomplishedsomuch.”shesaidproudly.“Hereallyissomebody.”
Mymotherwantedeachofustobesomebodytoo.“.”shealwayssaid.
, , Ipaintedastackofwoodencrateswhiteandnailedthemtogethertomakeawobblybookcase.“It’swonderful!”Mamaexclaimed.“Justwhatweneed.”Sheuseditformanyyears.
, Leocommentedthatthepicturesweren’’thearofit.“Theyaretheretoremindyouhowmuchyoucouldaccomplishevenaschildren.”shesaid.
Fromtheverybeginning, , aftervisitingourgrandparentsontheSouthSide, , the41-storybuildingwouldbeChicago’stallest.“Maybesomedayoneofyoucandesignabuildinglikethis.”shesaid.
Herconfidenceinuswasinfectious.WhenmysisterCarlawas12，sheannouncedshewasgoingtobealawyer.
“Youcandothat.”Mamasaid.“Youcandoanythingyouputyourmindto.”
, , , talkingtousabouthistory, politicsandcurrentevents, , , , therewasneveraquestionthatwe’’sacrifice, westudiedhardtoearnscholarships, , Ilearnedthevalueofadollar.“Workisablessing.”Mamaalwaysremindedus.
