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Weekly Contest #228
I was excited to go on this train trip with my husband. I hadn't been on a train since I was a kid. My dad worked for the Reading Railroad's Port Richmond grain elevator down next to the Delaware River. Since the 'grain' was owned by the Railroad, he would get tickets once a year for me, him, my mom and my little sister, Betty. I was never too fond of those trips because there was nothing to do but sit! But I always did want to eat in the dining car. The thought of eating while riding excited me. My mom told me we just couldn't afford it. I ...
Weekly Contest #136
THE ALL-STAR It’s that time of year again, SPRING. Standing on this baseball field in this clear, crisp weather makes me feel at home. My husband and I have been here many times before with our three children; Ronnie, 11, Timmy 10, and Missy 9. Somehow this time seems very different. Our fourth child, Joey, is waiting anxiously beside me to hear if he made the All-Star Little League team. He practices around the clock and counts the hours until his Saturday game. Quite a few people can’t believe he has such a pitching arm at his age...
Weekly Contest #123
➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢ 1994-ME-NERVOUS Mary Cahill Kurpiewski Why was I so nervous? Me, Miss Mary Confident? I have always been ‘nervy’ and I couldn’t understand why I felt this way tonight. I have conned, manipulated, lied--well--rearranged the truth when I applied for the 50 jobs I’ve had and, mostly, had successful results. It all came to a head when I applied for my last job. It wasn’t a big deal or anything, but I had to fill out a resume. I have always, most of the time, been confident in my abilities t...
Weekly Contest #118
➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢ I WAS GOING TO CHANGE! Mary Cahill Kurpiewski It was the day I was going to change! It was my chance--my chance to change! This was my chance to become a new person. This opportunity isn’t usually presented to everyone. I had the perfect scenario. It was my chance to have a new image--my chance! I was going to change! My husband received a job transfer from the East coast to the West. We were getting a new home, new neighborho...
Weekly Contest #111
➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢ A LEGACY Mary Cahill Kurpiewski When I was growing up in Port Richmond, a blue-collar section of Philadelphia near the Delaware River, my mom was always so charitable and religious that I look back and marvel at her examples. The only thing I could not understand was her reluctance to give money to beggars. In the 40´s and 50´s we called homeless people who asked for money...hobos! The rude Mrs. Brennan, our neighbor, referred to them as ´bums´. My mother would say, ¨...if these unfortunate people are hungry, ...
Weekly Contest #53
IT WON’T BE LONG After promising myself over and over that I wouldn’t cry through this whole traumatic thing, I finally let it flow last night. Reality is something I can usually face with my faith in God and a stiff upper lip. But this is different. In two weeks my son, Timmy is leaving for college 3000 miles away. After 17 years of his being so much a part of me and his dad and his two brothers and sister, it will be difficult to let him go. ‘It won’t be long’ until we have to say our goodbyes. When my four children were litt...
Weekly Contest #50
ME-NERVOUS? Mary Cahill Kurpiewski Why was I so nervous? Me, Miss Mary Confident? I have always been ‘nervy’ and I couldn’t understand why I felt this way tonight. I have conned, manipulated, lied--well--rearranged the truth when I applied for the 50 jobs I’ve had and, mostly, had successful results. It all came to a head when I applied for my last job. It wasn’t a big deal or anything, but I had to fill out a resume. I am 77 years old, but look 97 and feel 47. I have always, most of the time, been confident in my abiliti...
Weekly Contest #49
MIRACULOUS ANSWER Mary Cahill KurpiewskiAt 37 years old, my husband at 40, with four teenage, very active children, I couldn’t believe the news the doctor had just given us. “Mary, you’re pregnant!” As I regained my composure, I knew that we had placed our trust in God and He had decided!Reeling from the news; my husband, Ron and I were just holding hands, staring at each other. I wasn’t expecting the next question the doctor asked me, “…..abortion?” I gasped, “Doctor, how could you even suggest such a thing?”He suggested it for the reasons ...
Weekly Contest #48
OUR FRIEND -Mary Cahill Kurpiewski The moment we met her, I knew she would be a big part of our lives. It turned out to be a fact. She was always there when we needed her, good times and bad. Knowing she was around always made us feel safe and secure. She was someone we knew we could always depend on. You never had to ask her to help--you knew she would never refuse. We didn’t realize it at the time, but she entered our lives just when we needed her. We had four little kids between the...
Weekly Contest #47
THE LETTERS Mary Cahill Kurpiewski You have been waiting for this day for almost a month now. Every time you hear a noise outside, like a truck or people talking or the leaves fluttering, you think it has arrived. When your son, Ronnie, 36, comes home from work and your son, Christian, 18, flies in the door from school, they always look at you hopefully.They are expecting that message, that news, that letter, that plan for their future. You know each of them has a dream that will be answered with this anticipated delivery. Ea...
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