K-Mart Mentality
by Carol DeMarois
It wasn't always easy
raising eight kids in a one bathroom house
expenses exceeded income on a monthly basis
days of scrounging through couch cushions
and old coat pockets for milk money
sometimes we drank water
My dream was to get out of debt
his was to be able to play
he said I had a K-Mart mentality
forever counting my pennies
I told him he was a frustrated playboy
spending money we didn't have
Well the kids grew up
one by one they married and left home
George died before he really lived
after thirty-some years of the K-Mart mentality
debts paid, I'm off the hook
and I've bought myself a ticket to Maui
New Spring
by Carol DeMarois
I guess you had to die to set me free
you were the mighty tree
and I was quite content to be a root
covered by your massive trunk
protected in your leafy shade
though you drew your strength from me
I had no leaves or blossoms of my own
But now, dear love
I've finally broken through the crusted earth
afraid at first but not willing to die
I've sprouted buds and shoots swollen with hope
I'm green with life and thriving in the sun
Super Bowl Parties
by Carol DeMarois
Thirteen years of Super Bowl parties with that same crowd
Our first was the Rams and the Stealers
It was at Bob and Theresa's
We had our whole lives ahead of us
Bob wore his straw boater hat and a red and white checkered sport coat
Theresa wore a blue and gold cheerleader outfit and kept bending over
so you could see that her undies said, "Go Rams"
She died at the end of the year
Then it was at Bob and Angela's
He still wore the hat and sport coat
and Angela made pasta and cheesecake
Garlic and Tomato aromas hit you when they opened the front door
Joe Conestro strummed guitar
Pat O'Flaherty thumped his washtub base
and Duke pounded the piano during halftime while we all sang corny songs
like "Me and My Gal" and "Shine on Harvest Moon"
George and I harmonized
Duke died that summer
Yesterday as usual after the game
nobody cared who won or lost
They put on the old records - Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra
and there was dancing
George has been dead for six years.
This is the first time I've been able to stay through Frank Sinatra
and drive home without crying