Category: Memories

She was born Rosamond Ruth Prussman, to parents Frederick and Mary on June 28, 1929. She had a much loved older brother, Robert and a cousin George, (who grew up like a brother to her). In fact, until the day they passed, they really adored each other.

Mom’s brother, Robert and his wife Cynthia.

Aunt Betty, Larry, Janet and Uncle George.

She met my Dad when she was 13 and she was dancing and my Dad played the piano. I asked Dad once what made him look twice at Mom and he said “It was a bright red sweater that she was wearing! She looked so beautiful in it! I was hooked!”

A collage of their life together.

They married early on, and Dad finished getting his teaching degree. They moved to Monument Beach,  Massachusetts ,

and lived in a little white cottage in the Burtonwood section, where my brother, Richard and my sister Melodie were born.

Then they moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts and shortly after, Mom had me.

My parent’s stayed married for well over 60 years.

Mom was with him until the end of his life, and really until the end of hers too.  She never remarried. I think in her mind and her heart she was always Jimmie’s girl!

Her last days were spent, not in fear of dying, no, Mom knew Jesus Christ and she knew she would see Dad again. She just worried about Mel and me and all of our cousins.

Me, Mel & Janet with Mom.

This was the last time we were together before Mom was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. It was a wedding. Mom was so happy to be with us all. I almost didn’t go because of my facial surgery, but I am so glad I did now. Seeing her so happy and sharing that day with her, left us all with wonderful memories.

The last time I saw her, at Hospice Care, Mel and I, sat there, with Janet and the four of us were talking quietly. I asked Mom how we would know if she was with us. She smiled and said “You will see butterflies, and that will be me.” This really surprised me because she always had related to beautiful flowers in the past.

But you know what? We see beautiful butterflies all the time. And we smile!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Summer Memories

I grew in Falmouth on Cape Cod and my summers were always full of sun, sea and soft, cool, cotton sheets after a long day at the beach. My sister Melodie is in the back on the left. I’m the bold one in the blue bikini!

I swam almost before I could walk, dreamed of magical kingdoms, built in the sand, and lay on my towel watching the clouds drift by in the afternoon. I remember thinking that time went so slowly as I lay there, that things would always be like that.

I ran barefoot all summer long through the sweet grass, and the scent of lilacs and roses and the ocean were always there. (Or so it seemed)

The feel of salt on my skin, the taste of it on my lips, and the laughter in the air, as I climbed the jetties along the Surf Drive Beach.

Melodie on the left and me at home on Clipper Lane. When I didn’t walk to the beach, I rode my trusty Schwinn Bike all over town.

Fireflies, cookouts on the grill at Goodwill Park, with marshmallows too. My Uncle George, cousin, Janet and Aunt Betty with Grandma Honey.

Telling stories in the dark, movies at the drive-in and ice cream cones at Dairy Queen!

Pop cycles and root beer floats, fried clams and frozen Milkyway bars. Lobster and butter, and strawberry shortcakes at the church festival.

At the Clam Shack in Falmouth.

Sunshine and happiness, visiting with relatives who flocked to our house and the beach. Summers are full of some of the best memories in my life!

February 4th would have been my Grandma Honey’s 119th birthday. It’s difficult to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next over 31 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life, and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!

Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.

Here is a picture of Mel and me with our much loved, Grandma Honey, at Goodwill Park.

Grandma Honey and Papa Fred. Theirs was truly an epic love story! They met when they were less than ten years old. Grandma was friends with Papa’s sister, Katchen, and spent a lot of time at the house teaching Katchen to speak English. The family had recently arrived from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, and aside from the eldest sister, Hedwig, who worked as a Nanny, no one spoke a lot of English.

Anyway, Papa always said he fell in love with her then, and as a teenager, he would chase off any beau that tried to court her. My great grandfather eventually allowed them to become engaged, but insisted that Mary finish college before they married.

They were married until Mary eventually passed from this life to the next. He joined her 8 months later.

Today is the Birthday of my best friend, Uschi! We have been friends for a very long time, and our friendship has deepened, and now I think of her as a sister as well.

Uschi dear, I hope that your birthday is a good one and the year ahead, filled with sunshine and happiness! I send all of my love and many, many hugs!!!

This picture was taken at Surf Drive Beach, in Falmouth,  Massachusetts. This is the beach where I grew up and it was so special to share it with my two daughters. I would guess that this was taken 1981.

Yesterday I called a friend. I hadn’t spoken to them in a long while, and they’d been on my mind. As soon as they answered the phone, I did my usual funny phone greeting, that usually makes people laugh, but yesterday, my dear friend broke down immediately. I asked quickly, what was wrong.

My friend had just had to put down their 12 year old dog. He was a jolly good dog, and my friend got him about the same time we got Greta.

Oh if I could have jumped through the phone to be there to comfort my friend, I would. Instead I listened, and spoke words of kindness and tenderness. Unfortunately, I know all too well, the heartbreak of losing my trusty fur friend.

After our chat, I felt the deep sadness of my friends loss. Sammy was such a clown, and often when he heard me on the phone he would fuss and whine letting me know he heard my voice. He always had come right over to me and just been the sweetest boy. I will miss him.

Then I thought of my Greta. She is 12 and a half now. All gray and looking old. But, since I switched her food, and have her on pain medication, she is chipper like a puppy again. Well, in spurts, and then she naps.

Oh goodness, I sure hope Greta will be with us for a long while. The day she says good-bye will be a very tough day, indeed.