This is probably one of the most heartfelt letters mom ever wrote me. She sent it to me just after I left for college.
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Kathie Gagne died 4,756 days ago.
August 23rd, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
August 23rd, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
This greeting card has a simple heart-shaped balloon on the front floating over a green hill. The outside of the card reads, “Wishing you love in your heart, peace in your soul…” and on the inside is printed, “…and joy in your life — always.”
I must have made some joke to her about my roommate – Anil – having received a greeting card from his mom. For the life of me I cannot remember who Chris was / is. I assume she was my boss at whatever job I had in the summer before college.
August 22nd, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
This is a quick letter mom wrote in a greeting card. The front of the card reads, “The pathway to success is traveled by those who believe in themselves and the good life can bring.” The interior continues, “Congratulations to someone who expects the best out of life — and gets it!”
I certainly don’t know that I would characterize myself that way, but I guess mom thought it was appropriate.
August 9th, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
This is one of the very first cards mom sent me when I left for college. It’s a Ziggy greeting card. On the front he’s saying, “If you think I’m going to get all misty-eyed and sentimental just because you’re going off to school…” and then inside it continues, “…You’re absolutely right!”
June 12th, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
With son David at his graduation from Father Lopez Catholic High School
January 24th, 1991 @ 12:00 pm
This was a two-page letter written on a standard yellow legal pad. On the back of the first page, at the top and in the margin, mom wrote Sorry About the Envelope, Love!, underlined with a flourish. The envelope has long been lost, and I can’t even imagine why she’d have apologized about an envelope.
The second page is close to blank but for a small note in the center that reads: “P.S. This is my great American Novel Paper” with a heart drawn below her perfect Palmer script.
I’m not really sure where she was that someone was telling her to write letters to her kids; I’m guessing it was some sort of group therapy session or something at a Church function. And for the life of me I can’t remember who “Father Jacko” is.
Now that I’m a parent myself, reading letters from mom in which she talks about parenthood are loaded with entirely new meanings and my perspective has shifted dramatically and seismically.
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June 3rd, 1988 @ 10:23 pm
In the middle of March, in 2013, among thousands of mom’s scraps of paper and notebooks and letters, I found a handwritten will. It is dated 6-3-88 and is in mom’s indescribably perfect Palmer script:
6-3-88
To Whom It May Concern:
In the event of my death, this is my last will and testament.
I leave my home to my children, David and Jennifer, the proceeds of which are to be shared by them equally if the house is sold.
My watch and garnet ring and Italian ring go to Jennifer. My guitar goes to David as well as the gold cross from Italy. The diamond pendant from Italy goes to Jennifer.
Mom, please make sure the kids are taken care of. Bill, please don’t keep the kids from my Mother; she has sacrificed a lot for them and loves them dearly.
Mom, please split up the rest of the stuff between the kids. I love you.
I love you, David and Jenny, with all my heart, and I will always be with you. Please remember the good times and have mercy on me for any times I hurt you. I love you!!! Mom
Kathleen A. Gagne
I should note that I have no idea where mom’s guitar is at this point, but now that I’m reminded of it, I would dearly like to find it.
I also have no idea to which watch she could have been referring; and I don’t know anything about a garnet ring, an Italian ring, a gold cross, or any diamond pendant from Italy.
My grandmother was killed in 2007 by the tragic incompetence of multiple employees at Indigo Manor, an assisted living facility in Daytona Beach, Florida.. Her death devastated mom in a way I could never possibly have understood until now. And, of course, now it is too late.
February 17th, 1987 @ 12:00 pm
For several years mom worked as a copy editor at the Daytona Beach News-Journal. I remember that she seemed to truly enjoy that job; she was brilliant at writing and editing and – thanks to her life-long love of sports – became friends with all of the sportswriters at the paper.
NASCAR legend Bill Elliot visited the News-Journal offices shortly after the Daytona 500 one year and mom got to meet him. I told all of my classmates and it was a pretty big thrill for a few days. (He signed a few hats and beer cozies that we owned for a long time but have since been lost.)
September 16th, 1985 @ 12:00 pm
Here is an anecdote mom submitted to the Life in These United States department of Reader’s Digest. It’s typed and she wrote “9/16/85” in the upper margin, so that’s how I’m dating it. It’s funny to see our old address and phone number. I can’t say for certain if it was ever published in the magazine, but I know she was always sending things like this to magazines to try to earn a few extra dollars here and there.
Kathleen A. Gagne
1000 Fifteenth St., #1003
Holly Hill, FL 32017(904) 253-4942 Home
(904) 252-1511 ext. 229 WorkMy neighbor is a kind-hearted young woman who has worked with and has a deep affection for the elderly. One day, she was on a downtown sidewalk of a small Florida city when she espied a couple, clearly in their eighties, having difficulty managing to step from the curb to the street next to a parked car. The man was using a walker and appeared to be very weak. His wife was holding onto his arm, trying to help. My neighbor, of course, stepped forward, opened the door of the car and with gentle, loving care, assisted the man into the passenger seat while the woman stood by distressed and quietly protesting that they did not need my friend’s help. Undaunted, and touched by their desire for independence, my friend managed to get the walker into the back seat as the man looked up at her with sad eyes. Finally, she turned to his wife. “If you like,” she offered generously, “I’ll help you around to the driver’s side.” The woman wrung her hands, shaking her head in despair. “My dear, please listen to me. We appreciate your help. But, this is not our car. We’re just trying to get to the bus stop across the street.”
Needless to say, she got them across the street safely, grateful that the real owner of the car did not come out.
Please consider the above contribution for “Life in These United States.” It is true, and, as we laughed over it we felt it reflected not only the human desire to help, but also the occasional tendency to offer slightly the wrong kind.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Gagne
April 13th, 1985 @ 9:00 am
Mom and Jenny and I went to Walt Disney World on April 13, 1985. I’m pretty sure, but not certain, that Nana 1 came with us and that was the trip we got a surprise overnight stay at the Polynesian Resort. I distinctly remember eating the buffet dinner at the Polynesian with Nana, and my sister and I running back and forth to the buffet for more ice cream, and Nana being concerned that mom was too tired to drive home. Although that could have all been a ruse and their plan was to stay overnight all along.
I love seeing mom’s signature. She really had the most beautiful penmanship, and I have tried my whole life to emulate her script.
1 “Nana” — Anna S. Albanese — refers to our maternal grandmother. “Nana Rainy” — Lorraine Gagne — refers to our paternal grandmother. The only time we called my maternal grandmother anything other than simply “Nana” was when we were in New England visiting dad, in which case we would refer to Nana as “Nana-from-Florida” or “Nana Anna”. We always use “Nana Rainy” to refer to our paternal grandmother.