 |
Anita
The thing that Robert appreciated most about his childhood was that his siblings were grown and out of the house, so he had his mother, Anita, to himself. He acknowledges that his mother spoiled him.
Anita had been a single mother for most of the time she raised her children. Born in Ohio and raised, along with a brother, by her father, she had a strong and loving role model in how to raise her own children. When she was child, Anita's family moved to Mexico leaving cold, wet Ohio behind. She moved back to the States as a teenager, settling in Oxnard, getting married and starting a family. It was a hard life raising 4 children after her husband left them. But with spirit and pluck, she moved her family down to Los Angeles. She managed to raise a family, provide for them and go back to school to finish her high school degree at night.
Learning about WISE was a godsend to Robert since Anita is able to receive care and attention five days a week.
Anita taught Robert so many things from a love for all kinds of international flavors during their many restaurant jaunts, to a love of reading, an enjoyment of movies and an interest in current events. She insisted that her youngest child not watch TV and use his mind instead. She enjoyed many different types of books but her favorites were espionage novels and Robert absorbed this love. Robert Ludlum was her favorite author and Anita was thrilled to be able to spend a free hour absorbed in the twists and surprises of his plots. Enchanted by new ideas and knowledge, her favorite movie was "The King and I," which captured her imagination. She was also a great admirer of John F. Kennedy, whom she thought an exciting and fair leader, a president who inspired everyone.
Robert remembers big family dinners at all the holidays, especially at Christmas. He always wondered how his mother could work full time, raise a big family and manage to produce an abundant spread. Anita was such a skilled chef that he cannot single out one dish that was her specialty; he says everything was amazing.
After his mother had a stroke, Robert had his mother move in with him since he did not want her to be alone. Learning about WISE was a godsend to Robert since Anita is able to receive care and attention five days a week. He appreciates the activities that keep her engaged and the entertainment that keeps her alert. He knows that her love of socializing is satisfied being at WISE and motivated to stay alive. Robert says that no matter how wonderful the facilities and attentive and dedicated the staff, he will always worry about his mother every waking moment. But, he says his worry is less acute, knowing Anita is in safe and caring hands at WISE.
|
|
|
