Not everyone is blessed with a good mother. Even fewer have been blessed by two good mothers like I was...
This is true. I had the privilege of having two wonderful mothers. Therefore, being it is Mother's Day, I want to devote this journal entry to honoring both my moms. They're deceased now. But the memories of them will forever be in my heart.
| My first tribute is to Pearl Schwimmer Berkowitz, my adoptive mother who carried me home from the hospital in 1953, and raised me. She and my father, Nathan, gave me all the love they possibly could. Being a difficult and hard to manage child - this is my opinion - I caused her more grief and aggravation than happiness. However I'm sure she'd vehemently disagree with my assessment of myself. Mama Pearl would insist to this day that I was her angel. I wish! |  |
My adoptive mother, who had been the pillar of my life, died from cancer in 1967. I was fourteen. But with the stabilizer of my life gone, my turbulent behaviors and emotions would only get worse. Although I did have periods of normality, too. For the most part, I was just a mischievous Jewish kid growing up in the Bronx.
While the second tribute is for the kindly woman who gave birth to me and made sure that I was given over to good people who'd care for me, which she was unable to properly do at the time. Rebecca Broder (known simply as Betty) was a gentle and loving woman whom I had the privilege of meeting for the first time in 1975. I was twenty-two.
I tracked Betty down with the help of an organization known as ALMA (Adoptees Liberty Movement Association). After an intensive one-year search, which I did with ALMA's staff providing advice and guidance as to where to locate the information needed to find her, my birth mother and I were finally reunited in 1975. It was a good meeting.
I learned I had a half-sister. I discovered there was an entire family of blood relatives whom I never knew existed before this. The relationship with my birth mother blossomed. I became close to my sister, brother-in-law, and my nieces. It was a dream come true.
Unfortunately, however, other negative factors would come into play that not even having a new family could overcome. I allowed myself to be overpowered by evil, and this was my fault. I ended up in prison. The short two-year relationship with my birth family would gradually come to an end as I foolishly burned the bridge between us by my self-destructive and self-punishing ways. And this bridge has never been rebuilt, much to my regret.
Yes, I look back with much sorrow by all that was lost. Betty passed away in the 1980s. By this time I had lost contact with her. Yet life must go on even in spite of my past failures, sins and mistakes. Nevertheless, I consider myself blessed for having had two great women in my life. I had two mothers. I've much to be thankful for.
D.B.
While the second tribute is for the kindly woman who gave birth to me and made sure that I was given over to good people who'd care for me, which she was unable to properly do at the time. Rebecca Broder (known simply as Betty) was a gentle and loving woman whom I had the privilege of meeting for the first time in 1975. I was twenty-two.
I tracked Betty down with the help of an organization known as ALMA (Adoptees Liberty Movement Association). After an intensive one-year search, which I did with ALMA's staff providing advice and guidance as to where to locate the information needed to find her, my birth mother and I were finally reunited in 1975. It was a good meeting.
I learned I had a half-sister. I discovered there was an entire family of blood relatives whom I never knew existed before this. The relationship with my birth mother blossomed. I became close to my sister, brother-in-law, and my nieces. It was a dream come true.
Unfortunately, however, other negative factors would come into play that not even having a new family could overcome. I allowed myself to be overpowered by evil, and this was my fault. I ended up in prison. The short two-year relationship with my birth family would gradually come to an end as I foolishly burned the bridge between us by my self-destructive and self-punishing ways. And this bridge has never been rebuilt, much to my regret.
Yes, I look back with much sorrow by all that was lost. Betty passed away in the 1980s. By this time I had lost contact with her. Yet life must go on even in spite of my past failures, sins and mistakes. Nevertheless, I consider myself blessed for having had two great women in my life. I had two mothers. I've much to be thankful for.
D.B.
