An Important Part of Myself

 

 Momma always thought of herself as  being poor. If by being poor it meant she neverhad any jewelry, furs, much money, it is true she was poor. She came to America in 1910 at the age of 16, poor, remained poor and died poor. But, if we speak of riches as not referring to  material things but instead, that which is the spirit of the heart, one’s goodness, decency and the willingness to help others, then Momma was extremely wealthy. She lived for 93 years. I knew her for my entire life  and never once during that long period of time did I ever hear anybody say anything unkind about her. 

     Momma had five children between 1918 and 1928 of which I was youngest. Knowing Momma, I am sure if the 1929 depression had not occurred and lasting through the 1930s Momma would have had more children. Her children and her many grandchildren loved their Bobba Lena. A good example of the kind of person Momma was, can best be understood in the following.

     When she became older and stopped working in a factory hand sewing mens’ ties, she liked to go to Saratoga Springs in upstate New York for two weeks in the month of August, for mineral baths.  She stayed at a rooming house where she made her own bed and meals in its kitchen. One summer it turned out the rooming house had gone out of business and there was no other place available. My sister Katie found out there was another mineral bath area in Sharon Springs, New York, and located a small hotel that did have the baths  and did have a room available. When told, Momma resisted because she had never stayed at a hotel and would haves been uncomfortable to do so. When it appeared that if she would not go, it would mean she would be without the mineral baths, she decided to go.

     When Momma came home, Katie was helping her unpack and noticed where was a small gift wrapped package. “ Who is this present for ?” Katie asked. “ It is for me,” Momma said. “ Who gave it to you?” Katie asked. “ The chambermaid  in the hotel, “ Momma replied. Katie said “”Momma, when you go to a hotel, you are supposed to give the chambermaid a gift. Why  did she give  you a gift?”  “ Because I helped her make the beds,” Momma said. Momma was the least pretentious person I ever knew and the above makes it clear, she was the epitome of a classless society.

     Momma was always concerned whether upon her death, would she go to heaven, and if when she did, would she be given a chair.If there be a book of life, I am sure an entry has been made that upon her death, when she was delivered to heaven,she would  not only be given a chair, but like Sholem Aleichem’s  Bontche Schweig,, it would be a day of celebration and a day in which she  would be seated with honors.

     I  am fortunate I have Momma’s DNA  and that she is an important part of me? 

Ben Haber