Everyday, Jo would come home from school, do her homework and play hopscotch by herself. Their church, school, market, a local store everything was within a mile's radius. Even Jo's Aunt lived two blocks away from their house. Jo had Bologne sandwiches for lunch. In the evenings, her grandparents cooked dinner for the entire family and they ate together. But Jo's childhood had much more to undergo. When Jo was 5, her mother fell sick and was hospitalized for two years after which she met her fate. Jo lost her mother at the age of 7 leaving behind a hope chest filled with her love.
Life went on with Jo getting admission to a Catholic school in her fifth grade. She felt proud to wear her catholic uniform - a brown blazer, a texan tie, brown binnie and a brown and white pleated skirt. She walked two miles to her school and back, with her friends. With not many extra-curricular activities to-do around, Jo kept herself busy making crafts, playing stoop ball. She participated in girl scouts program. Religion became her most favorite subject through the secondary school. She found peace going to church every morning before school. She visited the nuns in the convent and helped them in cleaning chores and most importantly feeling the warmth of a mothers love - as close as she could get it.
Evenings were also spent with her favorite uncle John, whose funny and talkative nature was one of the few reasons to make Jo smile. She would enjoy his company and followed his ideals to be nice and loving.
Jo would try and find love in all the people around her. I cannot imagine how it is to grow up without your mother's love, but am sure it creates that empty space in you heart which lasts forever. For Jo, that was the reason to built up a personality to love the outcasted people, the ones who are sad and lonely - for she knew how terrible it felt. She would walk across from her house to the house of a granny who was deserted by her family and sit beside her holding her hand. She would take warm food to her during holidays.
Her role model with no surprises was the walking angel - our dear Mother Teressa. Jo admired her patience and love for lepers and outcast people. Also, Jacqueline Kennedy (the then first lady) was her favorite. Little Jo did not want to wash off her hand when Mrs. Kennedy had kissed it during her visit to a museum.
Years passed by, and teenage Jo got admission to Champlain college. She left her house in Bronx to find a new herself in the city of Burlington.
