for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

Three years ago today, my mom passed away.

Klaatu : 1/22/2012 10:22 am
Congential heart failure. She was 80.

She didn't know a thing about football, but she knew I loved the Giants, and win or lose, she'd call me on Sunday nights during the season to see how I was doing.

Growing up, Sunday dinner was almost always at my grandparent's house (my mom's parents). We'd get up early, go to church, and make the drive from Long Island to Brooklyn (82nd St. & 13th Ave.), arriving in time to catch that week's Abbott & Costello movie. If the Giants were playing at 1:00 pm, I'd usually get a "special dispensation" to watch the game in my grandfather's "TV room." 4:00 pm games allowed me to enjoy Nana's regularly scheduled Huge Italian Sunday Feast before adjourning to the TV rom, cannolis in hand.

I was living at home during the 1986 season. I'd gotten out of the Army a couple of years earlier, went back and finished college, and was working full-time. Commuting from Long Island to Manhattan every day was a pain, though, and I was planning on moving into the city sooner rather than later, but at that time, I was still living with my parents. Sunday dinners at Nana and Grandpa's were no more. Grandpa had long since passed, and it wouldn't be long before Nana was living with us.

I had to pay rent. No free rides from Mom & Dad. And if I wanted to watch the Giants game in the den, where the "big" color TV was (instead of watching it in my bedroom on a 13-inch black and white), I had chores to do first. Dust and vacuum the whole house (five bedroom colonial), clean three bathrooms, mop the floor - kitchen and dinette, foyer and den around the carpet.

That '86 season was special in many ways. It's the first time my mom took an interest in the Giants. My dad could not care less - he wasn't a sports fan at all - but my mom, I guess, kind of liked hanging out with her Prodigal Son, and got caught up in my excitement.

She didn't really know what was going on with the game (I could never get her to stop calling a "sack" a "zap"), but in times of crisis (like 4th and 17 in Minnessota) she'd break out the rosary beads and say a novena. She loved Bill Parcells - he looks like Frankie Lattaraca's father, from the old neighborhood - and Phil Simms - he's such a nice-looking boy - and, of course, Mark Bavaro, whom she regularly referred to as The Adonis, lol.

Over the years, in addition to the phone calls on Sundays, there was always something Giants-related for Christmas or my birthday, even if it was something small like a mug or a t-shirt. She never forgot. And when I'd go to training camp, I'd always bring her back a souvenir. The singing teddy bear was her favorite...even when it eventually stopped singing.

I'll never forget my phone ringing after the victory in Super Bowl 42. It was mom, of course. I was like, Mom, you're still up? And she was like, Of course! Even your father stayed awake! You must be on Cloud Nine! Of course I was.

Man, I really miss those Sunday night calls. Definitely could have used a few over the last three years. Heavy sigh.

Mom, if you're listening...the weather in San Francisco is supposed to be bad. I could really use another novena.
Lets get a bunch  
Moondwg : 1/22/2012 10:25 am : link
of Zaps for mom today!!!
Nice  
dorgan : 1/22/2012 10:26 am : link
post. Thanks for sharing that.
Great share.  
Big Blue '56 : 1/22/2012 10:29 am : link
This one's for mom and all other loved ones that we've lost
Nice  
mrvax : 1/22/2012 10:30 am : link
tribute Klaatu. My Dad passed away back in '99 and I still miss him. I think our parents were similar in quite a few ways.
Thanks for sharing klaatu  
GMenLTS : 1/22/2012 10:30 am : link
agreed with moondwg, lots of zaps today!
To all of our Giants fans friends and family....  
Britt in VA : 1/22/2012 10:32 am : link
that are no longer with us... Give us a bounce or two today, will ya?

Nice post.
Great post buddy.  
RDJR : 1/22/2012 10:41 am : link
I'm crazy emotional this morning too. Can't stop thinking about my Dad who has been gone 10 years. He loved days like today :)
God Bless man  
Blue Blood : 1/22/2012 10:45 am : link
I lost my mom five years ago and you always miss your mother. My mom used to make sandwiches for me and my Dad every Sunday for the game. She never watched football but gave me and my dad a lot of bonding time on Sundays to watch the game. We still get together almost every Sunday to watch the Giants..,

God Bless you man !!
Nice Post,  
Conman : 1/22/2012 10:47 am : link
She'll be right up there with my Brother and Dad hopefully doing lots of "Zap" Dances!
When it came to the Giants, my mom was an eternal optimist.  
Klaatu : 1/22/2012 11:06 am : link
Maybe that's why I'm one of BBI's resident pessimists. Any shrinks out there care to comment?
Klaatu  
87giants91 : 1/22/2012 11:07 am : link
My Mom passed last night--she was 80 also. Brain cancer. Thanks for sharing your story.
Oh, man...I'm sorry, dude.  
Klaatu : 1/22/2012 11:11 am : link
My prayers to you and yours.
From now on  
jsboston : 1/22/2012 11:14 am : link
Sacks are zaps. Lets get ten today.
After Matt Bahr's game-winning kick...  
Klaatu : 1/22/2012 11:29 am : link
In the 1990 NFC Championship Game, my roommate and I (we were living in Astoria at the time), ran out into the street like maniacs, celebrating with our neighbors, jumping up and down, high-fiving, etc.

When my mom called later on that night and I told her that, the first thing she said was, "Did you put a jacket on?"
wow Klaatu  
JCin332 : 1/22/2012 11:40 am : link
awesome post..that is what being a Giant fan is to me..spending time with family..I will be thinking of my Dad also today..

Here's to tons of zaps by Big Blue today..!!!!
87giants91  
MookGiants : 1/22/2012 11:44 am : link
God Bless You. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Klaatu- great post. God Bless
87giants  
GMenLTS : 1/22/2012 11:54 am : link
Sorry for your loss. All the best to your family
jsboston  
Moondwg : 1/22/2012 12:04 pm : link


Sorry--that was bigger than I expected  
Moondwg : 1/22/2012 12:05 pm : link
.
Great post, thanks for sharing  
jpennyva : 1/22/2012 12:15 pm : link
It makes me feel better knowing there are people up above rooting for us.

87giants91 - so sorry for your loss.
the loss is always there and mom is just mom, irreplaceable in our  
slefrak : 1/22/2012 12:27 pm : link
thoughts and our lives. thanks for sharing your thoughts on your mom's "yahrzeit". We would light a candle, I m going into my kitchen and light a memorial candle now.

I at least was 43 when my mom died. my chldren were half that age when their mom died and that was tough. i had to break the news to my son in the persian gulf by phone, not easy even for a physician practiced at delivering bad news. its never easy. my thoughts are with you.
Sorry  
AcidTest : 1/22/2012 12:41 pm : link
for your loss. Prayers to your mother, you, and your family.
sorry to hear about your mom 87  
oipolloi : 1/22/2012 12:42 pm : link
and thanks for telling us about your mom, Klaatu

Your mom will be looking proudly down on you and our  
RELICDOA : 1/22/2012 12:53 pm : link
NY Giants today!!! I'm sure we will have a few ZAPS in her honor!!! God Bless Klaatu.
Thanks for the thoughts  
87giants91 : 1/22/2012 2:15 pm : link
Takes some of the luster out of today's game. It was fun in 2007 though because my Mom was a Patriots fan. I used to kid her about being a NYer and liking the Patriots; then when we won the SB of course.
Great read...  
BigBlue26 : 1/22/2012 3:32 pm : link
I like to believe HopeJ is holding one hell of a party up there for all the BBI friends and family members that we are missing. Here's hoping our boys bring home a win today for them (and us) all!
Let's get some zaps!  
arcarsenal : 1/22/2012 3:43 pm : link
.
Your mom  
SoZKillA : 1/23/2012 3:03 am : link
Answered your prayers today ! Let's win it for her !

All In!
Back to the Corner