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 Our family is close with Nan and her sisters living just blocks from one another. The cousins all congregated weekly and often daily for fun. Actually she lived with her parents with her younger sister living in the adjoining home, it was a duplex. They shared the local paper the Times Herald and the Philadelphia Inquirer, why pay for both if you can only read one at a time. One day she hollered over the fence to her nephew, 12 year old Pat. He was on the back porch and Nan yelled across "can you bring me the Herald". He looked up at his aunt and said "HUH" a couple of times, he did not understand what she was yelling at him. To be an obedient child he immediately went inside and looked around for what he thought she wanted. He popped his head out the back door a few minutes later carrying a globe on a three foot pedestal "The World" is what he thought she said.  Nan started laughing, doubled over tears in her eyes, at his heroic action. Pat went into his house and brought Nan the World not the Herald. She never let him forget that he brought the world to her. She had an amazing contagious laugh. Pat was her sister's youngest child and filled Nan's heart with joy every moment they shared.

My grandfather on my father's side was a large land owner. He had prestige in our city. My father carried that legacy through his children. Everyone in the city knew our family and knew what we came from and my father wanted to keep the aura flowing. Every Saturday after the age of 8, Nan would dress one of the girls up in their Sunday best including the Maryjane shoes. We would get in the car with our father and drive to the best restaurant in town. It was noon on Saturday and all of my father's buddies were at the bar tossing a few down. We were met at the front door by a 200 pound Mastiff that scared the shit out of every person that walked by him. The maitre d escorted us to our table, we were seated among the wealthy of the city. Our presence was noticed with everyone smiling. They thought what a nice person to take his daughter to lunch. We were taught what fork to use, what glass to drink from, how to sit at the table with our back straight and eyes forward. My sisters and I endured this for several years. We had to do it with no back talk, no whining, no spilling of the milk, plus your plate was cleaned no matter what he ordered for you.

No one knew what went on in our house. We were perfection with the best car, the biggest house, the best clothes, always attending mass together. We were the perfect family.

Sometimes your eyes play tricks on you!

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