MY MEMORIES OF MARYJANE
The passing of my beloved aunt, Maryjane, represents an end to an era. I will always remember her for her gentleness, kindness and generosity. She has now left us all but the fondest memories.
Maryjane was more a friend than an aunt. For proof that my two sisters grew up in a different generation than their four brothers, I only need to note how we addressed our mother’s sisters. To the four boys they were Ruthie, Maryjane and Margaret. To the two girls they were Aunty Ruthie, Aunty Maryjane and Aunty Margaret.
Maryjane and Margaret were Wild Cats. Lest anybody take that term literally, that was the name of the hockey team in which they played, Maryjane as a left outer and Margaret the left back. I remember Marjane taking me many times for matches at the then BPHA in which they outlasted the Panchgany Pansies, Christchurch and the Lusitanians. The team had many beauties playing in short shorts. At the time I was too young to appreciate the fine figures of a Munira Shakur, a Marie Simoes or a Joan Tellis. I was more concerned about their ability to score (i.e. Goals). And score they did to the tune of being perennial champions of their league. The team had a wonderful sponsor, one Khody Irani who owned a potato chip factory. At the end of each game we were treated to large bags of chips from his factory in Grant Road.
At a time when we were relatively poor, Maryjane was always there with a monthly allowance. I don’t remember the amount but it was large enough to make us really look forward to her pay day at Richardson and Cruddas. The allowance continued till we graduated from high school with progressive increases as we moved up the grades.
Maryjane was always interested in music, movies and Hollywood. Maybe my deep fondness for them comes from her. She had a subscription with a store that allowed her access to the many movie and glamor magazines such as Photoplay and Moviestar. That’s where I read about films and gossip about Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher and the scandalous liason between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
There was tinge of sadness when she left home to wed a dashing young man with Hollywood type good looks, as many months would intervene before we would see her.
When she visited me in New Jersey I took her to Broadway. I am not sure if she saw. “Les Miserables,” but I surely did take her to see “Annie Get Your Gun” as I did Uncle Osy. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed the musical as it brought back a flood of memories with hits like “The Girl that I Marry,” “There’s no Business like Show Business,” and “Moonshine Lullaby.” Both were fortunate that Irving Berlin, the writer of the musical died a few years earlier as, for whatever reason, he vowed that the play would not be performed in his lifetime. It was a classic.
There was always a special place in my heart for this aunt of mine and was fortunate enough to be with her the week before she left us. I could see her struggling to hold on to life. She could only talk in whispers. So the only way I could communicate with her was through music. I had my IPAD with me and a Blue Tooth speaker. Sitting next to her, holding her hand I played many of her and my favorite songs from yesteryear, including “Three Coins in the Fountain, Merry Widow, Some Enchanted Evening, Jambalaya , together with hits by Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams and others.” She could not voice the words aloud but you could see her lips moving with the melody.
She was special. Very Very Special. I will miss her. A lot!!!
Her loving nephew,
Mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-i6jjpJS8&feature=share