African-American group: a positive thread and post, I hope

[steve2470]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025923892

Easter, my second mother

I hope I don't regret this thread. I'm baring my soul a bit.

From 1958 to 1991, Easter worked at my home as a maid. She was African-American. She was born in 1920, so she had experienced Jim Crow in full intensity.

Easter truly loved me. She hugged me. She kissed me. She cooked for me. She asked about me. She worried about me. " Steebie ", she used to call me. I loved that woman. I truly did. I cried when she died, and went to her funeral service at her church.

Of course, she was not my mother. My own mother died in 2007. However, Easter did a lot for me, out of the goodness of her huge heart. She was a long-suffering soul, having a daughter who, apparently, had many problems. Her daughter was very very grief-stricken when she passed.

Ok, I'm rambling now. My family did as much as we could for her, because we all cared for her. Could we have done more ? I suppose. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Hopefully this thread will help one person. I hope so. It is done with all good intents.

Have a good day, sincerely.


Steve

I posted this in GD on 12-7-2014. I hope this makes at least one person smile and makes at least one person have a better day. God bless this group.

Steve

[BlueJazz]

1. Your post is kind, caring, appropriate and moving.

[No Vested Interest]

2. I understand.

It is normal and natural to have regrets about what we might have done for those we cared for.

[qwlauren35]

3. I hope you gave her a retirement fund.

That is the one thing that black domestics don't get from the government. They are not allowed to collect Social Security. The Southern congresscritters required it for the law to pass. Farm workers also are not allowed to collect Social Security. Because most of us were farm workers.

So, if you made her retirement years cushy, I applaud you.

[steve2470]

4. since my parents hired her, I have no idea

My understanding is we gave her several thousand dollars on top of her regular salary over the years. AFAIK, she was not uncomfortable in her senior years, but, again, I do not know all the facts.