My parents got married still in their teens. That was common then. My father’s father was a millionaire entrepreneur, who had made then ‘the finest wedding in the history of NY’ (according to the mayor). My mom thought he’d support them, but instead the next day he left them all to their own. This is according to my mom, so I’m not sure the total abandonment part is 100% true.

They were already just slightly pregnant with my sister. Then I was the youngest of three girls.

From my memory, we had a house on the water. I had pets until they all met with untimely deaths because of my mom. I had a friend or two. My sisters couldn’t care less about my existence. If Mom made them babysit, they were resentful. They didn’t get along with each other, either.

We had my mom’s parents living nearby, who we saw often, and I loved.

We visited the rich grandpa often and were told to be nice to him because he was supposed to leave us money. Long story short, he did not leave us money, and it killed my father two years later.

My mother was mostly on the phone, cleaning while complaining about it. She once made me paper dolls that were cute. Nobody played with me. I kept myself busy mostly getting into trouble. I even used to stick my fingers into the light sockets to see if I’d get shocked, and I always did! Duh.

Mom could be cruel and screaming. If directed at me, I’d cry myself out as she’d be unrelenting. The main issue was that I wouldn’t eat.

She could also be fun and adventurous.

She always dressed prettily, with make up. She always insisted us girls looked like dolls. The pictures were beautiful.

My father was a light spirited personality until he got sick, and was very handsome. I only had a few actual experiences wher we interacted together. He died when I had just turned 12.

My sisters left home as soon as they could and I was raised like an only child after that.

Mom remarried within one year to a nice man who was a career musician.

I enjoyed watching his band, and later got to sing with them often.

He wasn’t like a father to me though. Mom made that very clear to him. But they’re still together and he’s always been nice to me. He has a kind disposition and is a saint to put up with her.