第21章我最思念的人MyMettableCharater（2）
Mama’sfaceride。Ikhingwehadachievedorwouldachievewasbeyparents。ereyouhereentor。NotuntilIbeadultdidIrealizehowspecialshewas。Delightiion。Mymotherwasborninasmalltownialy。Shewasthreewhesimmigratedtothis1926。TheylivedonChicago’sSouthSide，wheremygrandfatherworkedmakihrivediiviro16，shegraduatedfirstinherhigh-schooltoarialsdfinallyworkedasaivesecretaryforarailroadpany。Shewasbeautifultoo。hotographerusedherpihismonthlywindowdisplay，shewasflattered。HerfavoriteportraitshbyLakeMi，herhairwindblazereagtowardthehorizon。Mymotheralwaysusedtosaythatwhenyoudied，Godgaveyoubackyour“bestself”。She’dshoidsay，“ThisiswhatI’mgoingtolooklikeinheavesweremarriedin1944。Dadwasaquietamanhealy。Soo-and-ruhimermalimp。DadwdytoChicagoofficeworkersontheirbreak。Hehadlittleformalsg。HisEnglishwasself-taught。Yetheeventuallybuiltasmall，successfulwholesaledybusiness。Dadwasgenerous，handsomeanddeeplyreligious。Mamawasdevotedtohim。Aftershemarried，mymotherquitherjobaoherfamily。
In1950，withthree，Dadmovedthefamilytoafarm4o。Heworkedthelandahecitytorunhisbusiness。Mamasaidgoodbyetoherparentsaradedherbusyeighborhoodforamoreisolatedlife。Butsheneverplained。By1958，ourmodestwhitefarmhousewasfilledwithsix，andMamawasdelighted。ThinkBig。Mymotherudiedbo。Yetshekoraise。Sheheighteeemandhelpedusreachourpotential。Onefallday，Isatatthekittableotatoes。ShespiedDadoutthewindowonhistrailed。“Yourfatherhasaplishedsomuch。”shesaidproudly，“Hereallyissomebody。”Mymotherwantedeachofustobesomebodyteistyoueistohelp。”shealwayssaid。Shereadtouseverydayandusedhomemadeflashcardstoteaetics。Shebolsteredourgevenourmostordinaryaeeackofwoodeeaogethertomakeawobblybookcase。“It’swonderful!”Mamaexclaimed。“Justwhatweformahediningroomaretwopaint-by-uresthatmysisterGloriaandbrotherLeodidaskids。Severalyearsago，Leoehepicturesweren’tverygoodaakethemdown。
ButMamawould。“Theyaretheretoremindyouhowmuplishevenas。”shesaid。Frinning，sheurgedustothiervisitingraheSouthSide，shemadeDaddetourpastthePrudentialBuildingstruamaexplaiwhehe41-storybuildingwouldbeChicago’stallest。“Maybesomedayoneofyouabuildihis。”shesaid。Heruswasiious。WhenmysisterCarlawas12，sheannouncedshewasgoingtobealawyer。“Youamasaid。“Youythingyouputyourmindtuide。ToMama，eduartofherblueprintforsuccess。Fourofuswenttoanearby，one-roomsothermadeupforitsshsbygettiionaltoys，talkingtousabouthistory，politidtevehhomework。Thebestpartofgettingagoodreportcardwasherunstintingpraise。WhenIwasihirdgrade，sheurgedourteachertaos。Mymotherhelpedtheteatabusandplarip。Sheeveuide，pointingoutlandmarksainglocalhistory。Wheothinkaboutcollege，therewasionthatwe’dallgo。Inspiredbyourparents’sacrifice，westudiedhardtoearnscholarships，andappliedfrantsandfinancialaid。Wealsotookjobstoearnmoneyforschiore，Ilearhevalueofadollar。“Workisablessing。”Mamaalwaysremindedus。Sheneveraskedfforherself。“Youdoobuymeabirthdaypresent。”shesaidoeadwritemealetteraboutyourself。”Tellmeaboutyourlife。Isanythingwyou?Areyouhappy?”