With Aunt Fran, having a great time is relative
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Everyone should have an Aunt Fran. Even the name has a nice ring - Aunt Fran. It sounds friendly, yet elegant…
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Grit and glitz: Of people versus People
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BOSTON HERALD, MARCH, 1989
Wanting a life back
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“I want my old life back.”
That’s what the woman whispered between sobs.
I heard her, though I was just walking by, walking past, trying not to hear, trying not to look, not to see.
“I want my old life back,” she said again, louder this time, and I stopped walking and looked directly at her, a broken, old woman bent and weeping in a wheelchair.It was a Sunday in February ten years ago and I was at Hollywell Nursing Home in Randolph on a mission looking for help for my own mother, who was not so old but just as broken. I had spent the day visiting nursing homes and even then knew with absolute certainty that this was one of the worst days of my life.
Read MoreReal friendship can validate our lives
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I wanted to be Rosemary's friend from the moment I met her. I was 7 years old, the new girl in class, and Rosemary already had a best friend, Jean Sullivan, a girl she walked around the schoolyard with, a girl she invited over to her house. I tried to get Rosemary to like me better than she liked Jean, but I was unsuccessful. Then fate intervened, Jean moved and I got my wish.
Read MoreMemories need to be shared as well as treasured
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"Tell me about the war, Dad?" I ventured, a long time ago when I was a child and needed a story to take to school.
"Were you scared? Did you think you might die?"
"Your father doesn't like to talk about the war," my mother scolded. "Run along and do your homework."
"But this is my homework " I protested.
Read MoreA Trying Phase
/The Patriot Ledger
Beverly Beckham
1985
Staring at Mortality - The Patriot Ledger
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What I will always remember about Maureen is that she was a good mother. I didn't know her well. I saw her only at racquetball so she was more acquaintance than friend. Yet, during the five years we played in a women’s league, there developed among a group of us a bond…
Read MoreThe electric glow of the newlyweds
/The Patriot Ledger
Beverly Beckham
Mary and Billy on their wedding day
And here they are 40 years later.
