My Mom
This is my mom.
She has lived quite the life.
She grew up during the Great Depression—as a farmer no less. She told me stories of the times when candy was purchased with a single small coin, but had a much larger value in that century.
As a young child in those times, she was sent to the grocery store to beg for bones from the butcher, so that my grandmother and grandfather could prepare bone marrow soup from those meager remnants.
That’s what poverty looks like.
My grandma and grandpa and mom and her siblings… they all were tough.
My aunt contracted Polio. She initially was right handed, but after getting Polio, had to relearn how to write with her left hand. My grandmother was patient and brilliant, and taught my aunt how to overcome Polio by learning how to write with her other hand that wasn’t affected by the paralysis of the disease.
I remember my aunt having a hobble to her locomotion, and never knowing why until my mom told me the above mentioned.
My grandmother was a hell of a musician too. My mom plays as well… now I do too.
… and I’m probably not tough like they were. Resilient, maybe? Yeah, I’d say I’m resilient.
My mom was raised on a farm in the Central Valley, so she knows the meaning of taking an animals life to eat, because she would have to do it, and my mom loves animals. It’s the circle of life, and she knows that first hand.
Dinner wasn’t a chicken neatly wrapped in styrofoam, covered in clear plastic wrap, purchased at the grocery store.
That’s the reality I know.
My mom has taught me a lot of things over the years. She has a lot of wisdom. I always listen to it.
Most of the furry friends we had growing up, were all rescued from one dire circumstance or another, because it’s the right thing to do: help a cat or a dog out that’s shivering in the middle of a freeway median, with traffic passing at 70MPH.
… and I’d like to think that she passed on to me, some of the things that I admire about her the most. I’ll try my best to carry that torch, and keep it lit.
WHO IS MIKE VITALE?
I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify: