My mom worked for Barry Commoner

She learned quite a lot at her position. I remember how she would come home singing all those songs of hope and social change she would hear at Washington University in St. Louis.

She was like so many others of her day, intrigued by the JFK presidency. She collected the memorabilia and absolutely idolized the man. She took his assassination very hard.

She was also a pioneer of her own self making. She would rescue animals that were going to be euthanized or experimented upon and brought many of them home. Eventually she got caught and lost her job at Washington U. She regretted losing the job because at the time she was hoping I could qualify academically so her status as an employee there would gain me a better chance of making it in there.

I kept my grades up anyway. Although my mom never really showed her emotional side as life was tough on us, I caught a tear in her eye the day I left for college.

As the years rolled by we were always hit hard by the date of Nov. 22nd. And this year we were stung by the very unexpected death of our mom also on Nov. 22nd.

May you soar high mom!