Womanhood: My Mother

Of course, she was the first woman I ever met.

Her name was Paula.

Both her parents were Irish immigrants. Her dad, Timothy, was a County Cork fireman who rose to battalion chief in the Chicago FD.

She was well educated with a degree from The University of Chicago. Also, an accomplished classical pianist and a prolific writer. When my father would return home in the evening from his job as a professor at Notre Dame, she would have on fresh makeup while playing Beethoven or Tchaikovsky on her grand piano.

She was my best friend growing up. I am the oldest of five boys and a girl.

My dad died in 2002. At his funeral, she told me that she was glad he died first so he wouldn’t have to live alone. She lived alone for four more years till age 92.