Muriel: The Mother of Mario Simms and Siblings

By Geno Simms

This booklet is a recollection of my time spent with my grandmother, Muriel, when I relocated to Long Island. I felt the need to capture the essence of Muriel and the beautiful memories of the time spent with her. This document highlights her favorite quotes, which for me will ever be so special, but most of all the last words she said to me: “Remember the things I said to you."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spines
• Release date: Apr 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798893832051

Book preview

HER NAME WAS MURIEL

M

She was my father's mother who once said to me You are loved.

My memory recalls, sitting with her at the table as she was reminiscing about the days she spent as a school teacher.

The days of old, the days of yesteryear, as she knew it. The times spent with my grandmother were so amusing!

I resided on New Providence and Grandma Muriel lived on Long Island. When vacation time came, I would travel via the mail boat, to Long Island to visit her. It was an adventure! A day ride on the ocean, or throughout the entire evening to morning, depending on the time the vessel departed.

I remember this one particular visit, having arrived in the morning at Simms Public Dock. My uncle had a liquor store and restaurant not too far from the dock, so with my luggage in tow, I strolled along the roadside to him. Upon my arrival to the restaurant my grandmother Muriel, was sitting in a chair at the door. When I greeted her, she said, Look who reach! Put your bag over there and take a rake down the road to your uncle.

My uncle had a parcel of land and immediately, my chore was to rake away the bottles and cans that were gathered in front, nearest to the road. I raked and raked. There were so many bottles and cans that by the time the job was done, the palms of my hands were sore and blistered. Feeling content about completing the task my grandmother had charged me with, I made my way back to the restaurant. When I got there, I assured her that all the work was completed.

Suddenly, I heard a voice coming from behind me saying to my grandmother, That boy can work! Proudly she responded, If he is anything to me, he better know how to work!

Her name was Muriel, some people called her Miss Mue, some Mama, and others referred to her as, Mario's mother. All the same, she was my grandmother, my father's mother, and she believed in hard work. Obviously!

Like I said before, she was a teacher. Many days she would ask me a question and subsequently she would ask, if I believed she didn't know the answer. Grandma found great humor in doing this. One of her biggest concerns was that children of today are