For Fannie. Poem by fanniesson -

She was meant to live alone
not have a husband and three kids.

She was meant to get out of bed
when she felt like, have a shot of
the hair of the dog that bit her
the night before, while listening to
Sinatra, leisurely getting herself together.

She was meant to be alone, not
drag us kids to Patty's diner for breakfast,
then run to Jimmy's deli for a hero have them
split it into threes then pack it into lunch pails
with soda chips, and a Ding Dong.

She was meant to flirt with the counterman
half her age, drop us off in front of the school
not bring us in.

Use the same excuse she used most days
with the same instructions
'Mom's not feeling well today and needs to go home
and rest, so stay together until more kids
started to show up'.

Yeah, she was meant to be alone but she wasn't!
Right Fannie, right mom?