PROLOGUE
Before you enter into the life story of my mom, Marilyn, let me give you some background as to how this book came into fruition. Some may find this hard to read which reveals so many events that were good, bad, and certainly sad. Marilyn was incredibly private, overly proud, but one with a heart of gold who would try to help anyone sometimes to her own demise. Knowing who she was and where she came from brought me incredible incite into all the “why’s” I ever asked myself about her methods and behaviors over the years. Upon my insistance, Marilyn’s story was mostly hand written by her during the ferocious Florida Hurricane Dorian in September 2019. I encouraged her to take this time while she was entombed inside her storm shuttered condominium. There was no television (her favorite pastime) so, she had no reason not to begin writing her story. So full of stories and events over the years, it was time for her to put it on paper for posterity! I am so grateful she listened and created this memory of her life for her family. I implored her to write “everything” good and bad because the truth is the truth and will lend a complete understanding of her life. She was a bit reluctant, but she followed through. It’s mostly all in here! It certainly explains how she became who she was: proud, secretive, determined, controlling, passionate, loyal, resourceful, a survivor, and most important LOVING! She frequently claimed,“We are from another planet!” It wasn’t until November 2022 when the whole family came together for Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment that I noticed my mom’s behavior somewhat changing. I overlooked it because she had been totally alone for three years during Covid not allowing anyone into her apartment out of fear. Her life became CNN, MSNBC, and of course the daily show,“The View.” She was more of everything: anger, impatient, opinionated to an unregognized extreme. Looking back, I now believe she must have been in the beginning stages of dimensia. There was more going on than any of us realized. At 91 years old on February 20, 2023, she took a turn for the worst having AFIB and was hospitalized for a few days. When I went to be with her, we sat out on her balcony several nights and had wonderful conversations that I taped with her approval. The stories she told were funny, crazy, and sad, but all were important to what made her who she became. In this book, there are some audio transcripts that detail many events of her life. 2
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