Dedicated to M.O.M. (my other mother) and it was my pleasure to have known her)

I have this buddy.

I have been best buds with him for a good 25-30 years now.

When we first started pal-ing around all those years ago, I thought it was pretty cool how well we got along. Although I enjoy people in general, and especially in groups, I am not very comfortable one on one. Yet with my best bud, I am always pretty comfortable.

As the years of friendship progressed, we learned more about each other, and our childhoods, our upbringing, and about each of our families.

Come to find out, I was born on 5-27-1960 in Kent County Hospital in RI, the same day as my best bud's younger brother, Kenny, was born.

I put the facts together and figured out that as babies in that hospital (not always known for stellar performances in the health care field), Kenny & I were surely switched at birth. That clearly explained why me and my best bud get along so well. We are really siblings!

More years passed, as they do, and my best bud's mother got involved in this joke. I called her M.O.M. (My Other Mother). She sent birthday cards and holiday cards to me, signed by M.O.M. I came to love her dearly, for the great woman and mother she was.


Tonight I am sitting with tears running down my cheeks as I learn that M.O.M. has left us here on earth to go to an even better place.

Selfishly, I will miss our stupid jokes, rare visits, and our silly cards exchanged.

She raised very fine children, and they then raised the grandchildren.

I am so lucky to know them, and luckier still that her son is my best bud.

Here is a great picture of M.O.M. with my best bud, at his daughter's (and her granddaughter's) wedding! Beautiful!

I am a Putnamaniac that was very lucky to have M.O.M. in my life!