My mother Ann is the main reason I didn’t grow up with a desire to plot revenge for perceived wrongdoings by friends or family. She told me living well is the best revenge.

This doesn’t mean I was passive.

I physically fought with Gina across the street. She, my sister Renee’, and I spent so much time together it was like Gina was a third sibling. We would get on each other’s nerves.

I would also stand up for Renee’.

Mom, sister, and me. I’m protecting my sister from neighbors who won’t let her pick flowers.

A neighbor once scolded her for plucking flowers from the flower bed abutting our front yards. I lept in with, “Shut up old man.” And if my sister was being spanked or being punished in a very loud voice by our mother or father John, I would yell “stop it!” with all the force my childish voice could muster.
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