Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal

* * *

"Kathy, you here?" Ken called out for his roommate as he and Maddy

entered through the doorway of his Foxtail Court townhouse. They'd just

had a great meal of spaghetti and mussels at her place, after Mom and

Aunt Maria had insisted he stay for dinner. The four of them had a

marvelous time laughing over Aunt Maria's classic stories-well known

within the family, but always funnier when retold with a new listener

present at the table.

Ken seemed to get a kick out them, particularly the one about a hot

and humid day in August, 1973, when she and Maddy's mother had

decided to take all of the kids to Great Adventure. About midway through

the Safari-where even the lazy, sleeping animals seemed to have been

affected by the intense heat-the air conditioning had broken down in the

car. As a woman who was often "roasting" on even the most bitter cold

winter days, Aunt Maria had insisted on rolling the windows down, only

to have the park ranger scold them over the P.A. system. Good thing he

had, though, because right after that, a mob of baboons descended upon

them, apparently for the sole purpose of "christening" Monica's brandnew

white station wagon.

And of course, having insisted on wearing her cute new sandals

instead of practical sneakers to the park, Aunt Maria had ended up in

First-Aid with blisters all over her feet. After throwing the shoes away,

she'd "stolen" her teenaged son's hockey socks so she could walk around

in comfort-but not before they'd wasted most of the day waiting for

someone to help her. Maddy laughed as she recalled the memory of her

frustrated mother finally taking her by the hand and saying, "C'mon,

Maddy, this is ridiculous! You and I are going on some rides. I didn't pay

all this money so we could tend to your aunt's sore feet!" But thanks to

extremely long lines, Madeline and Monica ended up riding a grand total

of two amusements, after being there nearly twelve hours.

Next, Mom regaled him with stories of summer evenings at the

Phillies games, when she'd pile five kids in the car and head down to the

Vet at least four times a week. Maddy groaned as she remembered having

to get out of the pool-her favorite thing in the world-so she could dry

off, get dressed and join her siblings for yet another long nine innings,

assuming it didn't go into extras.

"Don't you like baseball, Mad?" Ken had asked.

"It's ok, but I am definitely more of a football girl. I just love the

Eagles. I grew up going to the games and we still have our season tickets."

He listened jealously once more as she recalled her presence, along

with Lori and Damian, at the NFC Championship Game in 1981, when

she'd thought she might freeze to death in the sub-zero wind chills. But it

had been such a pleasure to watch the Eagles thrash the Cowboys in

person. She cracked up as she recalled Wilbert Montgomery's touchdown

in the first quarter-made in their end zone-and Damian jumping up

and down so hard, Maddy and Lori were positive he would end up on the

field. Fun times, for sure.

"Well, Ken, maybe you can come up and go to a game with Madeline

this season," her mother suggested. "As much as I love them, my husband

and I prefer to watch the games at home now. With Damian living in

Nashville and Greg and Lori so busy, we usually end up with at least one

extra ticket."

"Wow! That'd be great!" he said excitedly, squeezing Maddy's hand

under the table. She smiled inside at the thought of it.

Ken of course, had a few good stories of his own, including one in

which his mom-against her husband's wishes-took him and his older

brothers to Yankee Stadium in New York to see a game, only to get stuck

there during the frightening blackout of 1977. A young boy of 10 at the

time, he remembered well the panic and mayhem, though they all

eventually returned home safely. His dad had not been amused.

And as a man who appreciated good food, and in fact, made a pretty

decent meal himself, Kenny went crazy over Monica's tangy red sauce, the

perfect companion to the mussels and spaghetti. He thanked her

profusely every time he accepted another offer of more.

"Please eat, Kenny," Monica had said. "I don't want it to go to waste

and Maddy here sure isn't going to put a dent into it."

"Yeah, sweetheart, this is delicious. Why aren't you eating more?"

Kenny asked, looking at her barren plate. "Aren't you hungry?"

"Oh, I try not to eat too much pasta," she explained. "Usually goes

right to my hips."

"Are you kidding?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "You're beautiful!"

He laughed at the ludicrousness of Maddy thinking she was fat.

"Yes, well, that's what we keep telling her," Aunt Maria added,

exchanging an approving look with her sister at Ken's reaction. This guy

definitely seemed like a keeper.

"Ok, well you all can make fun of me, but I know my body. Besides,

it just means there's more for you, my teddy bear!" She playfully poked

him in the ribs.

"I guess so!" he laughed. "But I still think you're beautiful, just the

way you are."