CHRISTIE-ALLEN-CONTE-BETANCOURT HOMEPAGE

JOYCE BARDALES YATES “MAMA YOU'RE CRAZY” Submitted by Rosalie Conte Chistie

That’s what I told my mother, Sarah Bardales, when she became pregnant at the age of forty. I was pregnant with my second child. My Aunt Dolly (Josephine Betancourt Aguiar) was pregnant with her first child. Aunt Dolly also thought my mother was crazy.

My mother was recently married to my wonderful stepfather, Albert Bardales. Mama and Daddy Albert were ecstatic about being parents, so they ignored us and didn’t let us dampen their excitement.

It wasn’t long before we accepted what God had sent, and got used to the news. When my second daughter, Rosemarie (Cookie) Christie was 3 weeks old, my mother went into labor. We lived on the same block in the projects. My Dad had left for work as he had the night shift. But luck was with us, my in-laws were visiting me, and my father-in-law, Tony Di Maggio drove Mama to Tampa General.

My father in law told me later that he was sweating bullets, especially when he drove over some railroad tracks. Her pains were close and she almost had my sister Joyce in the elevator of the hospital.

My sister was a beautiful baby. I’ll never forget the day mama and the baby were coming home. We were all waiting to greet them, my two little daughters, all the neighbors, and myself. When she got out of the car, there was no baby, and Mama was crying.

My baby sister had complications and needed transfusions, which family members contributed. Soon, Joyce came home and my sisters, Nina and Angie, who were single and living at home, spoiled baby Joyce.

Joyce and my three week old daughter Cookie grew up together, like cousins, instead of aunt and niece. My sister Joyce is the love of my life. My two sisters Angie and Nina moved to Las Vegas. Later Mama passed away, and my sister Joyce and I became even closer.

Mama, if you’re listening, and I’m sure you are, thank you for being crazy. You gave me a wonderful gift. Words cannot describe how I feel about my baby sister. She is a wonderful wife and mother. Joyce now has the pleasure of being a wonderful loving grandmother to Carlito.

Joyce has all my mothers’ qualities, her goodness, her thoughtfulness, and mostly her loving ways. She is the sunshine in my life, and I cherish her as my very precious treasure.

JOYCE AND FATHER ALBERT BARDALES

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