Mom stands out as a hero in reporter’s eyes
Published: May 9, 2007
Everyone needs a hero.
Life without someone to emulate is a life without much purpose. Everyone needs someone to look up to.
My mother is my hero.
When I was still an infant, my father decided he didn’t want to be with my mother and me anymore. I guess he had his reasons.
Mom was initially devastated, but decided she needed to move on.
Mom and I moved into her mother’s house in Speedway. Mom got a job less than two miles away.
She helped with the bills and took care of us both.
At age 3, I suffered a series of unexplained convulsions. Since my grandmother was getting older, Mom wanted to make sure I wasn’t too much for her in case it happened again.
She tried babysitter after babysitter. But either I would cry or it just didn’t work out. Finally we found an excellent one who lived one street over.
It was perfect. Mom would walk me over each morning, then back each night.
As I got older, Mom wanted a home of her own. We found one about one mile away, still close enough to her job.
We sold my grandmother’s house and took her with us. She was getting older, too.
Mom had to simultaneously work 40 or more hours per week, care for my grandmother and for me.
Since my school didn’t have a cafeteria, I would make the short walk home each day at lunchtime. Mom would come home every day to make sure I was well fed.
My grandmother was eventually diagnosed with cancer and started going downhill slowly. That meant Mom had even more responsibilities until Grandma passed in 1977.
Mom did all she could to ensure I had a full childhood. As far back as I can remember, the two of us would take summer vacations all over the country.
Disneyworld, Myrtle Beach, the Wisconsin Dells and even Hawaii were all places we visited. I’m sure Mom would have preferred seeing more adult-oriented attractions. But all those trips were centered around my enjoyment.
She also took me to every sporting event she could imagine. The Indy 500, Butler University football and basketball, minor league hockey games and even a few Indiana Pacers games (long before Reggie Miller).
She gave up every chance to remarry, choosing instead to focus 100 percent on me. Another man would have just gotten in the way, she figured.
She watched every penny, putting money away for my college education.
When I ended up choosing to attend Purdue, that proved wise. I made it through college without having to get a job or a financial loan.
Before you start to think Mom was a doctor or someone else with a high salary, consider she worked at Detroit Diesel Allison in Speedway as a systems analyst. Much of her work was secretarial. But she proved so invaluable to the company that they made sure she had a fair salary.
It was enough to pay bills and put some away. Mom was not a spendthrift.
When my car threw a rod on Interstate 65 while heading up to Purdue one day, Mom ended up giving — yes GIVING — me her car and buying a new one for herself.
It was a financial stretch for her, but she made it. I was a poor college student without a penny to his name.
Throughout my adult life, I can’t even list all the times Mom went way out of her way to ensure things worked out for me.
From providing a home for her son while he was between jobs, to late night trips to the airport to pick me up, she’s always there for me no matter what.
Now if that’s not the definition of a hero, I have no idea what is. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
Curt Slyder is a reporter for the Journal & Courier
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