Get the Bitches et al!

In-Laws Household... (small row home -SW Philly)

Mom and my sister-in-law were both clean fanatics. Mom wore out new
wall to wall carpet by vacuuming it too much. Fuzz balls kept popping
up! She got it replaced with the warrenty! Both ladies were very vocal,
head-strong, and intelligent women. They were tenacous with customer
service representatives when they believed they were right. Mom bought
a new washing machine before the old one died. They both played laundry
mat and washed every stitch in the house, for months! My favorite
comment, "Dust enters that house and screams on the way down!" My kids
laugh at that one!

My mother-in-Law was the bookkeeper for her husband. She always talked
about working in Woolworth's. "You never walked up or down the stairs
without carrying something." She was highly organized and managed money
skillfully. She graduated highschool in Woodbury,NJ while the family
lived in Mantua, NJ. Her parents owned a corner variety store. Mom was
responsible for raising her younger sibblings. Her favorite dessert was
frozen bananas. She'd often reminisce about the crates of bananas she
peeled, wrapped and froze. The family faced prejudice as the only
Italian family in the area. Eventually they moved back to South Philly.
We were the same blood type (B+) and I donated blood for her for an
operation. She was pleasent and patient; I loved her.

Mom's kitchen upstairs was just for show. She wore out the oven element
from cleaning and non-use. The basement kitchen, sitting area, laundry
room, bathroom and shower were installed by dad. That's where everyone
really lived. The upstairs livingroom and dining room were just for
company. Dad often said, "If it isn't built strong, it won't last in
this house." My husband helped him with the construction. He once
installed the shower stall when his father wasn't there. His father
ripped it out because he didn't like the way it was done. Dad had a
local contractor redo the livingroom/dining room. He kept ripping out
the areas he didn't like. After a while the contractor wouldn't come
back.

My inlaws had a preoccupation with death. We recieved a plot with the
family as a wedding present! The stone was purchased, carved and
erected before anyone died. They visited it and Joked about having a
picnic there. Their names were already carved in ahead of time to save
money. Mom kept a sample of the red stone material; my husband has it
now. My final resting place is in Lawrence Park, PA.

Every new appliance and car was my mother-in-law's last one before she
died! "This is my last oven, washing machine, car..." We all made fun
of her of course. She laughed. My husband's been waiting to die since
the day he was born too! I've learned to tune it out.

My father-in-law was born in Lester,Pa on his parents' farm which is
now an airport runway. They raised ducks, chinchillas and other
animals. He trained a duck to take treats out of his pocket. Dad was
the third of 4 boys. His mother died young. His father died few years
after. He had to quit school after 3rd grade to take care of his little
brother. The older brothers split; a local aunt did nothing for them.
Dad owned an airplane with a friend and named it "Duckybug." He claimed
riding a motorcycle through City Hall. He decided to settle down after
he got married.

Dad was a large man with extremely developed arms. His parents were
from Lithuania. I always compared him as having a John Wayne
personality. He had great catch-phrases. While we were dating he told
my husband, "whatever you put in the basket, you have to take home." He
would dump his son out of bed by literally twisting the mattress. He
told his son more than once and always in front of me, "If she has any
problems we'll throw you out and we'll give her your room!" I think he
was wise to us. He always called me, "M'Lady."

Dad would get away from his wife for a while by going to Channel to buy
more lumber. His auto shop was a half block from our grade school. He'd
go to the shop on weekends to water the plants and feed the fish. He
kept the heat on in the winter for them until mom found out. I used to
work at the local Fotomat and would meet him and his son for lunch.
We'd climb the ladder to the loft and watch McHale's Navy. The shop was
once a stable. Dad also talked endlessly about the Berma Road. He
assisted the medics and learned first aide. His job was to repair the
vehicles. He had great difficulty reading. His daughter identified him
as dyslexic. Her special ed training was helpful to him.

My in-laws already knew my relatives living in the same neighborhood.
They always saw me riding my bike when I was a kid. Dad paid off the
priest and others for our wedding with line-up jobs; we got a lot of
help from the business owners he knew. We thought dad had severe
arthritis. He hid liquer in basement's drop ceiling and took asperins
for pain so he could keep working in his auto repair shop. He was
finally diagnosed with multiple miloma.

My sister-in-law is a big woman and resembles her father. She's a
retired assistant principal. The Philly school system always put her in
difficult schools because she was so tough. She cleaned them up when
she was there.

Before her breast reduction she could hide an entire Hershey bar in her
cleavage! She always ate it before it melted. She slept with a bra on
for comfort, and couldn't give the hardware away after the reduction.
As you can tell, I was amazed. After the surgery her mother was talking
to her while she was still groggy. She would turn her head and her
mother ran around the bed to the other side. This went on several
times.

She once came to my house and helped with the dishes. She smashed the
water glasses in the cabinet when putting her hand in. We keep dixie
cups for her as a joke. She locked the bathroom door on the inside and
pulled it shut on the same day!

We had a rough start to our relationship. My sister-in-law constantly
critized me, or offered advice when I didn't ask for it. She's eleven
years older than my husband and had some unresolved issues. She was
helpful when I was making my wedding plans. She organized the music,
hired an organist and sang at my wedding. She has a lovely and powerful
voice. She cooked for the pre-wedding parties. The morning of my
wedding she was sitting with her brother and "the coffee fight"
erupted. They hurled the contents of their mugs at eachother. The walls
had to be cleaned. At he reception I danced with her father to "Daddy's
Little Girl." I guess that was too much. She cut in. Her father put her
back to the side and started dancing with me again. She cursed him in
the middle of the dance floor. I was irratated with her for a long
time! I choose to forget about it now. She's been a great help with my
kids and a source of support. I certainly understand her feelings. I
have a sister. There's always problems with two women in the picture.
Women are very territorial.