Prayer for Brothers and Sisters (From Sister Patsy)

Heavenly Father, You've given me so many gifts. Perhaps the dearest of all is my precious family. I thank you now especially for my brothers and sisters. Be with them Father. Surround them with Your presence. 

Open their hearts to a knowledge of Your constant care. Help me to show how very much I appreciate them, how grateful I am to live at this particular time in history, and to be a part of this particular generation. 

You fashioned me even before You created the world. If there have been rifts between us, grant us the wisdom to mend them. Open us all to your healing presence: The peace that comes with forgiveness and abandonment to Your will. 

If I have ever taken my family for granted, forgotten to tell them how much they mean to me, or refused to respect and trust them, forgive me. I know that you want what is best for us. Remind us that we reflect Your love in our love for one another. Remind me too that all your children are my spiritual brothers and sisters. 

Moey and me.

Front: Brian P.,Moey, Joanne, Me

Back; Neil, Michael P., Joey, Dad, Christine P

Me, Peggy, and Neil.

Guard me from a judgmental heart. From prejudice and jealousy. Let me cherish each person I meet as a part of Your eternal family. I place us all in Your hands recognizing that You watch us with a Father's tender regard: ever alert, ever merciful. Keep us close to one another in this life and be with us as we journey to our final home together. Amen.

Grocery Shopping (Childhood Memories)

One of our childhood chores was going to the neighborhood store to pick up items for our dinner. 

Of course we weren't real thrilled to do this as it interfered with our after school TV watching or play time. In addition it sometimes entailed not only shopping for our family but for my grandmother. She lived on the next street and we were always trying to discover new short cuts through neighbors yards to shorten the trip. We were mostly caught and turned away.

Another objection we had was going to different stores: one for baked goods, another for meat, and then my grandmother used the other meat market. 

Not to mention the hoodlums who lived at the corner of Pomona (my grandmother's street)  who constantly tormented us, "What's in the bag?" ( usually some odd assortment of housewares) which upon investigating they would immediately lose interestand and allow us to pass.

Of course my grandmother was wonderful so you had to smile and suck up your impatience with the experience or you would be scolded when you returned home.

 

One time my brother Marty was sent out on one of these excursions. When he returned home it was pouring rain and he had ridden his bike. 

My mother came out on the porch to greet him and retrieve the goods. He handed her a brown paper bag that was empty. It had been through soaked by the rain and the contents had fallen out. She kind of laughed (still in shock after losing 1 # ground beef) and asked," Where is the change?" 

"It was in the bag," Marty replied.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Dickies (Childhood Memories)

My at home (or around home) sisters occasionally would plan a trip to visit another sister who lived away. On one such trip of (which I unfortunately was not a party to) Mary, Moey, Patty, and Peggy were going to visit Joanne in New Hampshire. 

Mary, my oldest sister asked Moey what she was bringing in the large bag. Moey replied that she was bringing some dickies for Joanne. Mary excitedly responded, "I just love dickies. I have them in so many different colors; blue, pink green..."  Then Mary added," I love to wear them when I go running!" 

The other sisters at first attributed Mary's comments to their difference in age and fashion taste but that last comment seemed too bizarre. " You wear them to run in? (while exchanging 'that's unbelievable' glances with each other) 

"Oh yeah, they keep my neck so warm and toasty!" With this statement they determined that Mary was referring to the other 'dickey' which had long been a beloved fashion accessory for Mary. 

Fortunately for her the trend never caught on so she pretty much has the market to herself.

Peggy: Red is the Rose ( Peggy Farrell Flynn)

I thought recently about investing some time in researching our family history when my son was doing a school project on this subject. I decided I would rather be reminded and hear the stories of those who came before me. That is where my interests lie. I hope some of the family that comes after me share this interest and continue the story. 

 Peggy loved to pull pranks on her friends and then sharing the stories. 

Once when there was a snow day at school her friend Paulette (a school nurse) was counting her lucky stars. Another friend  called Paulette and asked her why she was not at school. She replied that it being a snow day she figured she was to stay home.' No,' she was told, ' as a memeber of the non teaching staff she was expected to come in and shovel snow'. When she objected saying that she couldn't get her car off the street she was told that their maintenence man could pick her up in his 4X4.

Another friend shared her good news with Peggy that she had been laid off by the Buffalo Public Schools and couldn't wait to get some rest and collect unemployment. Another friend impersonating Bflo. Schools Human Resouces called Susie and told her they had good news. 'You may return to work immediately as a bus driver. She protested.'Don't I need to be trained?' 'No problem' was the answer 'We'll take care of it and you'll be ready to ride that bus in no time.'

There was an embarrassing jingle by the hardware store on local TV and Peggy would tell her kids that she would be featured in their next commercial. She told how she was appproached while shopping there and illustrate the words and dance sparking fear and dread in them.

Neil said he felt like, ' The Captain and Tenille' when out with Peggy because she did all the talking.

 

Peggy liked this song. She left us too soon. She left 3 great children and her husband to carry on and 

I'm sure she is proud of how they not only managed but continue to spread the love and joy she embodied. May she rest in peace.