Tom and Katie are great brother and a great sister, but since I was born Mary has been in my life. Since we first put "Build Me Up Buttercup:" on her record player, she has been there. They are things that Mary and I share that Tom and Katie simply do not remember. More important, she has always been there with a kind word or a more intelligent take on the situation at hand. When I am sure I am right about the problem at hand, she always has another path that she urges me to consider. When we were very small, Mary and I rode in a old Fairchild prop jet FH-227B to Chicago with my dad on one of his Ozark trips. Let's say the turbulence got the better of my sister as my dad was over the intercom getting everyone to look in our direction. But besides that one time, Mary was always ready and always there to help me. When I was real small, I would lay in Mary's lap and say, "Pasha me Mary, Pasha me." It was little kid talk for pat me. She would do this until I fell asleep. The comfort and love or her touch will be in my memory forever.
So much has happened over the years, Mary was a Marquette Senior while I was a Freshmen and each Sunday night, she would fix dinner for me and then together we would call home. This was because two call home was too expensive. Ha! Ha! Mary also made sure that as a high school Senior I was at Marquette campus when Al McGuire and the boys won the National title in 1977. One time Mary and I called home, (314) 352-1116 and there was no answer, the phone had been disconnected. For about 12 hours we were orphans. (My mother will protest that last sentence.)
Mary married Gary Mindel --their first date was Final Four Saturday and together they have raised two beautiful and loving daughter Caitlin and Kelly. Their son Joseph left us they day he was born. Mary is a wonderful mother and now a wonderful grandmother. I know because I have been loved my Mary longer than anyone in her family. I could tell you, she was an engineer when they were not many women in that field and has accomplished so much in her life. She is always the rock and has her had on the tiller for our family, during our joys and our sadnesses. We have grown from the 6 on Holyoke to 19 now all over. Tom and Katie will agree with me, Mary is who we call when we need help and love in our lives.
We can all accomplish more in our lives with the love of good people. I know my sister will always love me, and always have my back.
"Pasha me Mary, pasha me." My eyes close, my heart is full, and I fall asleep to dream.
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