Dear Mom, Here is my sincere take on Dorothy Shooster, who I consider the most amazing mother a girl could ask for. I was com- pletely shocked the day I had to go to work and face the Shoosters after Stephen told them we were “an item”. I was scared that my job was in jeopardy and thought for sure I’d lose both my job and my boyfriend in one day. Instead when I came to the office that day, Dorothy, Herman, and Wendy greeted me with open arms and were thrilled that I was dating Stephen. Especially Dorothy because she knew I was Jewish! It was maybe a few weeks after Stephen proposed to me that Dorothy took me to lunch to get to know me better and the one part of the conversation that stood out in my mind was when Dorothy talked about the neighbors’ kids in her basement: “My friends would always say to me that my child would never smoke marijuana and I thought to myself, ‘Of course you would think that because they’re doing it in my basement.’” After our first son Jason was born Dorothy and I took the baby on a walk. I was painfully tired from no sleep and re- alized how expensive it was to raise a child and Dorothy’s wisdom came out: “You can never afford a child so why stop at one.” Dorothy has taught me a lot, lessons that I now put into use with my own children. For example, she told me it was okay for the kids to eat with their hands. In my family it was never done. Dorothy said if they eat with their hands they can be creative. Dorothy would always say “if you don’t pay the maid you will pay the doctor.” Or “if I put on another answering service that meant I could get new lipstick.” Although my mother-in-law is one of the most generous people I know, she would never allow anything to go to waste. It all stems from her childhood. In some ways I put that lesson into everyday life but when I look around I can see what she means when she says “We are loose as a goose” But it was really never about money for my mother-in-law, it was about value. It didn’t matter how much something cost as long as she can see the value in the product or service. In addition to being smart with her money, she genuinely cared and coached all of us on the value of everything. Dorothy is an amazing cook. She taught me some very basic recipes and some not so basic for my own family. Although her pancakes are the most sacred meal in our family, I’d have to say it’s her brisket that takes the prize. All you have to say to my kids that “nana’s pancakes” or “nana’s brisket” is being served and they will clear their calendars! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been Dorothy’s daughter-in-law for almost 24 years and yet there isn’t one day that goes by when I don’t think, Wow how lucky am I to have this amazing mother-in-law who’s been more of a mother to me than an in-law! Dorothy is so easy to talk to you and will always tell you the way it is even if you don’t like it. But she usually is right about her instinctive opinions. I don’t think I know anyone else that could say they love their mother-in-law as much as I do. Well, outside the Shooster Family that is! Dorothy always makes sure that there is a holiday dinner for all of us to gather. Even if it’s not in her home, she will not allow a holiday to go by without being with as many of her kids and grandchildren as possible. And at every Jewish holiday dinner, Dorothy always thinks about other people outside of the family who do not have a place to go and invites them to join our family. My mother-in-law has a great sense of humor. Thank goodness because her kids and most of the grandkids are very witty. Always smiling, always listening, always just being there for me has to be the best gift, besides marrying my husband, I ever received. I love you mom!! MWAHHHHHH!
Diane
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