Vera grew up on Hermes Ave in Covington KY. The family went to St John's Church on the Dixie Hwy.
Grandma
At some point when she was young, her mother came to her and told her to pack her clothes in a bag. She took mother to her mother's house to live. "Grandma" was getting to a point she could not be trusted to take care of herself. I don't remember hearing how long she lived with Grandma, or what triggered the next part of the story, but at some point her mother came again and sent her home. When she arrived home, her youngest brother Bill met her at the door. You don't belong here, he said, you're Grandma's girl. I've always wondered if the underlying reason was that when she left, a bedroom became available, and now it would be reclaimed.I don't know if mother ever told the story in Bill's presence, but I know that there was a strong affection and respect between them, and that he was her terminal caregiver.
mud in your eye
There is a story in the Gospels that never fails to remind me of our mother.When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,When she was a student at St John's school, something happened on the playground. A boy was hit sharply in the eye. Mother went and found or made some mud and placed it on the boy's eye. He never got a black eye. One of the nuns gave her a saint picture card.
Do you see anything?Looking up the man replied,
I see people looking like trees and walking.Then he laid hands on the man's eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said,
Do not even go into the village.- Mk 8:22-26
I think it shows her nerve and ability to act in time of trouble. Also her calmness when trouble first happens.
