Pegs

Pegs … Happy Birthday Big Sister!

I don’t remember who or where it was, but several years ago someone asked me about my first memory as a child. Whenever I push my mind as far back as I can go, … I land … sitting on the dining room floor in the little house on Cooper Avenue. I’m not sure how old I was, just old enough to sit up, and laugh with my big sister, as she taught me to play “patty cake”.  I can still hear her : “patty cake, patty cake, bakers man” …  She was probably 6 or 7 years old. I wasn’t very good at “patty cake” but she didn’t mind, we were laughing and having a good time.

Looking back, brings up other memories, growing up in the Overlook neighborhood. There’s the time she got in trouble for riding on a motorcycle with “that boy”!  Or her first date, I don’t remember who the lucky guy was, but after he came to the door, met my parents, withstood the standard interrogation from them, and as they turned to walk to the car parked out front, my brother yells out door …”Peggy Loves You!” As I recall she didn’t appreciate that AT ALL! … She probably still doesn’t …

I remember going to Lake Rabun in the 60’s. I was 10 or 11 years old, she was a 60’s teenager, We would go to Hall’s Boat House to “hang out”, play pinball, etc. … Peggy was in charge of the jukebox, … She would always play “Like a Rolling Stone” Bob Dylan … Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am A Rock” and any song by the Beatles. One time she invited a boyfriend to come to the lake … My Dad made him sleep in the Basement!

She gave me my first album … “Insight Out” by the Association … I still know every word of every song … I knew she gave it to me because she didn’t care for their music … but I loved it!

My Big Sister is an amazing,  determined, loving and stubborn fighter …

She had twins several years ago, there were many complications, one twin died at birth, Richard Johnathan Moore. The other had many mental  and physical problems, Mark Eugene Moore Jr, “Rusty” … She fought to save Rusty, taking care of him, taking care of his every need for  3 years, until she had to let him go …

She’s always been a fighter … She’s been fighting cancer for 16+ years now … 16+ years of assorted cancer treatments have taken their toll … she’s still fighting … Happy Birthday Pegs … I Love You …