Mom: A Story of Redemption on the New American Frontier

BNormal Illinois
March 12, 2020

At one time, before I got free rides to PT sessions, I took the taxi and met several funny cab drivers, all of whom had great stories of their lives. One woman, whom the other drivers called Mom (her real name is Linda), worked at a candy factory and she always brought home free broken candy. In spite of all the lovely candy, she had a very abusive husband who locked her up in a small room in the basement and tried to burn her alive. (Sadly, this is a true story.)

Prior to this miserable existence, she got pregnant in high school and her mother sent her to a Catholic Home for Unwed Mothers in Chicago, where her baby was taken away from her. Eventually, though, she got away from the abusive husband and met her grown-up son after many years and then she married a wonderful guy who was tending bar at a place where she had gone to celebrate her getting away from the abuser. (This too is a true story!)

Now years later her wonderful husband, who was a trucker and had no insurance, is an invalid who sits at home on his ass and does nothing, while she, after retiring from the candy factory, works four 12-hour days driving a Red Top taxi to pay for their health insurance. And also to pay for donuts and chicken dinners for her fellow cabbies. That’s why they call her Mom.

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