The project is now all consuming.
Last thing at night I am writing the piece and from the moment I wake up until I have found my subject it is all I can think about. It’s like being on a diet, you want the end results but it takes all of your energy to stick with it! Don’t worry, my success with the 50/50/50 project is much better than any diet I have ever attempted and there has been quite a handful!
Patricia was crying out to be today’s 50/50/50. This stylish lady, oozing sassy charm didn’t disappoint. It took a tiny bit of gentle persuasion by her daughter in law, she wanted to do it but wasn’t sure. The moment we sat down to talk the stories flowed like a fine wine and there were many.
Name: Patricia Kreisher
Occupation: Cosmetics buyer for Revlon/Former Furrier Model/Housewife Mother of 4 Boys
Patricia proceeded to tell me a cheeky little story about a store she worked in and I feel compelled to share. Her boss, we will just say ‘Bernie’ I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, was quite the womaniser. Patricia recalls frequent visits from rich, married ladies who would come to the store and go out back with Bernie for a little visit whilst poor Patricia had to play babysitter in the shop front!
‘What did he have about him that was so appealing?’ I asked.
‘He looked like Mr Clean, a very good looking man, well tailored suits and shirts..’
She trails off..I think maybe Bernie had more to him, regardless I’m amused by the story and the idea that Patricia took it all in her stride and held the confidence of all these ladies, some of whom were quite high up in society.
1. Where were you born & raised?
Reading, Pennsylvania.
‘I was born in 1937. I love the area. At that time you could go anywhere. We had a park and a pool and you could just walk there.’
2. Tell me a childhood memory.
‘I was in the drum core, I was in the High School Band, I was a twirler. I remember all the parades we went to. We went to one in New York and all the Guard were there, wearing the big hats like they do in your country. They asked me to be in a photograph, I was 14.’
Patricia was definitely a very beautiful young woman who clearly had lot of admirers. I’m imagining this tall, very slim red head with lots of confidence in her little white skirt twirling her baton! I’d love to see a picture. Even now at 78 she is a glamorous lady, loves her cosmetics and has taken the time to paint her face, her nails and carefully chosen her outfit and accessories.
She smokes her cigarette like the leading lady in a French Noir movie, I’m quite captivated.
3. What is your favourite season & why?
‘I think Fall, when all the leaves change and my favourite time of day is dusk. Right now it brings back memories.’
4. Tell me about someone you love.
‘My husband, he was the most wonderful man in the world.’
‘We were married for 50 years and together for 5 years on and off before that. I was 17 and he was 25 and my father had a fit! But then they became really good friends. ‘
‘I used to tell him, I don’t know what I will do if you are not here.’
‘He had congestive heart failure, Parkinsons and Leukemia. I took care of him for 7 years and he never had to lift a finger. We went to the Casino once a month, (Pat loves the slot machines) the Golf Court. We did a lot of things together. The day that he passed away we were shopping and we stopped and got a sandwich and we came back and he was sitting on the sofa and we were talking just like you and I. I went out to check the mail, he often snoozed on the sofa and I came back in and he was snoozing on the sofa. He liked ‘Young and Restless’ so I nudged him and I said ‘Honey, your show is on,’. He was gone. I couldn’t believe it, I was just sitting there talking to him and he was gone. Oh, I was just a mess, total, I was lost.’
‘We had just a little private ceremony out in the yard under my gazebo. We had his ashes with all the flowers and my oldest son he did the ceremony. ‘
‘It took me a year just to get out, I couldn’t function because he did everything for me, I don’t even cook.’
I can’t even look at the Young and the Restless anymore.’
Patricias’ husband has been gone for 6 years.
5. What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life.
‘I have a philosophy that y’know, you should here and now with your spouses and your loves ones, you should show them how much you love them now. You can’t give them that last hug. Thats the only thing that I hate, I didn’t give him that last hug.’
‘Cherish your family, my husband was gone in a whisper, there are so many things I’d have liked to have said to him.’
6. Dreams for the future?
‘I kinda wanna move back to PA to be near my sister. ‘
Patricia then tells me all the reasons that she should stay, her grandchildren, her children, they all need her and want her around.
She’d love to go to Vegas with her sister. I hope she does.
This beautiful vivacious woman. So loyal to her children and her husband, she talked to me about sacrifice for her family and her husband but without bitterness, purely out of love. She hadn’t a poor word to say about anyone (even Dirty old Bernie!) and had a wonderful positive attitude.
She had a bucket list..and told me all about it. I hope she puts herself first for a change and ticks off a few of the things she would love to go do.
I can imagine her and her sister living it up in Vegas, causing havoc and having fun. We all have a friend like Patricia, the life and soul of the party, the best Mum to her kids and a loyal wife to her husband but someone who knows how to have a good time, wear the right dress to the party and be in charge of any event.
If you have that friend, give her a call and tell her how great she is. She is so strong people forget to tell her, they don’t realise she needs to hear it. We all should hear how special we are even if we look like we don’t need it.
