Shelly's Father and Mother in the early years.

My Mother, Fredi, was a tiny girl during the Depression. Her family was dirt-poor. Her Mother was a wise, loving and strong woman who kept her three daughters fed during those difficult years by walking door-to-door throughout the West Side of Chicago, selling aprons she’d sewn by hand. On a good day, her Father was a charming drunk. On a bad day, he’d promise to be a good husband, a real Father, and to give up drinking; which led to the inevitably worse day when she realized he was unable to fulfill any of those promises.  She had an older 20-something Cousin she adored. She told me he was handsome, fun and always brought excitement into her life.

When she was 7, the Cousin announced his engagement and my Mother was chosen to be his flower girl. She was thrilled!  Her Mother told her she’d sew a special dress for her baby daughter to wear. (Note: My Grandmother Sophie, for whom I’m named, was one of the founders of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. The women had less than two pennies to rub together on any given day, but she worked her fingers to the bone to keep food on the table and the rent paid. She worked equally as hard for the rights of women like herself to be recognized and fairly compensated for their work. But I digress…)

By Shelly Goldstein, Feature Author

Shelly Goldstein is a writer-producer-performer who has written for every genre of television, film and stage -- and who has performed her one-woman shows to sold-out audiences throughout the US and UK. She has written special material for such performers as Steve Martin, Sharon Stone, Yoko Ono and Liza Minnelli. She has written song lyrics for G-rated children's shows and R-Rated comedy specials such as LOGO's ONE NIGHT STAND-UP. Her YouTube videos are known throughout the world.

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Comments(1):

1. Tears..

   What a thoughtful, insightful, sentimental and powerful article. Thank you again, Shelly Goldstein. I have tears in my eyes. Fredi was a beautiful woman, inside and out.

   Thursday, September 01, 2011 Victoria

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