| Page 2 of 3 < > |
At Sisters' Reunion in Bowie, Memories of Lipstick and Love
Christy Burdette, left, Theresa Woodruff, Carol Comlish, Marti Wallen, Laurie Thomas and Jean Scanlan toast their mother at her grave.
(Photos By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"We were dirt poor," said Comlish, shaking her head at the memory. "There were times when we would come home from school and the only thing that would be in the refrigerator would be mustard."
"We had cardboard in our shoes," Burdette added.
"The springs were coming up from the mattress," Comlish chimed in.
"But, every Easter, somehow she would buy us all beautiful dresses and march us into church," Laurie Thomas recalled.
"We made a statement, even back then," Wallen said. "Though we were the poorest of the poor, we had our heads held high because our mother always made us feel so special."
The women recalled their mother's love for a good book and a cup of hot tea, the scarves that adorned her neck and how she would use her employee discount to buy a few pieces in the bargain-basement section of Hecht's, bring them home and design beautiful ensembles.
"She always looked beautiful," said Thomas, who, as the only sister who didn't marry, continues the family name with pride.
Their mother supported the family as an artist, drawing models in clothes in fashion ads until photography ended her career, the women said.
"She took the civil service exam in her 60s and got a 92," Wallen recalled. "She went to work for the Federal Communications Commission as a secretary. She didn't even get her driver's license until she was in her 50s, because in the city, we went everywhere on streetcars and then on the bus."
Thomas remembered being 6 and her sister Christy Burdette accidentally cracking her head with a glass piggy bank. Their mother took Thomas to the hospital on the bus. "Here I am with this bloody bandage on my head, and we're on the bus," she said.
"She treated everything . . . " Thomas said.
"With alcohol!" the sisters added together.
Mobile
Email