Who Calling Kaleigh.........

[Kamuelamom]

Please share a little bit about yourself, will you?

 

[Kaleigh]

Well lets see. I am 43 years old and am happily married with two teenagers. My daughter Ashley is 17 and my son Rob is 15. I didn't have the best childhood. I grew up in a wealthy family,but it was very dysfunctional. I never knew what it was like to have a mothers love. I was raised by people that worked for our family and those people are very much a part of my life today. I had a brother, but he died of aids. He was six years older than me and was sent away to boarding school in the 5th grade. We didn't really grow up together. We became close when I was in college. He wanted to come "out" to my parents and we talked about how best to do that. My parents pretty much shut him out, which was just the straw that broke the camels back. One thing I did learn was that no matter what, You love your child unconditionally. He was my best friend. One thanksgiving we were at my Aunt's house. I was so excited to see my brother, he lived in NYC and I didn't get to see him very often. When I got there my Aunt said that Ted wasn't feeling very well and told me to go upstairs to see him. I walked into the room and looked into his eyes and I knew then and there that he was dying of Aids. I was crying so badly and my mother scolded me and said , this is a party and you will straighten yourself up and compose yourself. Part of me died that night. He died 6 months later and I was at his side. My parents came to visit, but said they would come back when he regained consciousness. So I lost my best friend. He is with me I can feel him.
As far as jewelry is concerned I have had a passion for it since I was very little. Instead of reading Nancy Drew or comics, I would pour over the Tiffany catalogs that my mother got in the mail. Back then they were more like books, pages and pages of eye candy. I met my husband in college and got married at 24. He is the nicest person and has helped me in many ways. I had my daughter at 26 and she was diagnosed with JRA. Juvenile rheumatiod arthritis at 18 months. She was in a lot of pain. She had to wear a leg brace and undergo a lot of physical therapy. I had to get her up in the morning and take a leg that was in a 45 degree angle and stretch it until it was straight. She looked at me with such understanding. She never complained, it was as if she knew I had to put her through this in order for her to get better. She is now a senior in High school, an A student and a member of the varsity tennis and golf teams. My son Rob has bad asthma and uses a nebulizer twice a day. He had a very bad attack and his heart stoped as he came home from school. I had to do CPR, while on the phone with 911. He is a ranked squash player and an A student as well. The one thing I am so proud of is that my kids are so compassionate and are nice people. I hear I love you mom in every conversation. I love them to pieces and they make my world.
I also have the most wonderful grandmother, her name is Bunny, but sometimes I call her the Bunster. She is 94 bless her heart and is a real pisser. This is my mothers mother and she has been the mother figure in my life. I lost my grandfather 6 years ago after a long battle with cancer. I took care of him through his battle and miss him terribly. So my grandmother and I are very close and I visit her every other day and don't go on long vacations because I can't leave her for too long.
I worked for a fine jewelry store and was very lucky to be trained by a GIA gemologist. I was like a sponge and tried to learn everything I could. We were held up twice. The second time was at gunpoint and I was manager of the diamond department. I left after that, it was way too scary for me.
So that is my story, sorry if it's too long. I have the most amazing friends who have been there for me through everything. I love Pricescope and have made so many friends and have learned so much.
Thanks
Lisa

 

[IrishEyes]

My gosh Kaleigh, what a survivor you are!! What a life, you sound like such a warm and compassionate person! I am so sorry to hear about your brother, how terrible that he couldn''t be accepted by his own parents

. He sounds lucky to have had you by his side. Your children are also lucky to have a mother that learned from the bad in her childhood and gave them all the love and attention and decency and human can have! That is the best gift of all, that you were able to instill in them decency and warmth so that they may do the same for their children. The world could be so lucky if everyone was able to do that with their children and their children''s children and so on. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story!

 

[belle]

lisa,
what a triumphant story you have brought here to share with us. i know that it must have been difficult to write down some of those painful memories, but i am glad that you took the time to put it together. it is those lessons in life that make us who we are today. though we haven''t met in person yet, i have come to know you in spirit from our many conversations. i know that you are a loving wife and mother as well as a kind and generous friend. that kindness is shown here daily in your many helpful posts and i for one, am so glad you''re here!

 

[Jennifer5973]

Wow, Lisa.

What an amazing woman and mother you are!

I am so sorry to read that your family has had a lot of strife; I suspect many of us have some sort of dysfunction at some point, but to lose your brother and best friend so young is truly a tragedy.

But you have risen from the past to raise a wonderful family and lead a wonderful life.

Good for you!!! We're glad to have you here and I for one appreciate your thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.

Looking forward to lots more from you!

 

[cflutist]

Kaleigh, ditto to what Jennifer said. She just has such an eloquent way of saying things.

I am so glad you broke the vicious cycle of dysfunction.

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks Irish Eyes, belle, Jenn and cflutist. Those were very nice words to hear.

 

[Libster]

I''ve always had a sense of just what a special person you are through your posts here, and now I know. Thank you for sharing that little bit of you with us, it means a lot and confirms just how loving, caring and giving you are. I''m so very sorry for the tragic loss of your brother. I had a really close friend die from Aids in 1991 and I still think of him and miss him daily.

Looking forward to getting to know you better

 

[sevens one]

Lisa
You have done a brave thing. I know sharing your story must have been very difficult.
I can personally say you are amazing and you are my friend.

(for a short gal) You are one of the toughest people I know. I admire your strength.
You are extremely giving and loving.
You are an inspiration to us all.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI Lisa:

Thanks for sharing your story--shows you have a lot of fortitude. And I admire your obvious spunk--and am gratified to know no one could drain that from you. Wishing you continued success at home, and on PS with your uplifting posts. Now where is that blue sapphire????????

cheers--Sharon

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks Libster, I am so sorry you lost a friend to aids, it's such a loss to loose someone so young. The worst thing was that just after my brother died my best friend at work died within days of my brother, of aids too. I volunteer for an organization that is called Aids Alive and they go to the schools and educate the kids on this terrible disease.

Nan, what can I say, but thanks for a wonderful friendship full of laughs and good fun. You are #1 in my book, so thanks.
Lisa

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks sharon,
I tried to get belle to take a quick plane ride to Philly, but no can do. It will appear soon, I promise!!!

 

[Patty]

Wow, Lisa, what a story you have. I''m so sorry about your brother.

You sound like a wonderful mother and your husband and kids are lucky to have you.

I imagine that you and Nan have a lot to share besides a love of diamonds with both of you having had sick kids.

You''ve brought a lot of fun to Pricescope. I''m glad you are here!

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh geeze, I need some tissues. Thanks Patty that is so sweet of you. I remember that Nan was the first member of PS to PM me. She thanked me for my nice words about Angello. I was sick with the flu and we found out how much we had in common. She too has a daughter that is my daughter's age and knows all about having kids that are sick. We both have lost very close friends to cancer, and we believe that our friends that have passed had a hand in bringing us together. PS is a wonderful community and I really enjoy my time with all of you.

 

[mrssalvo]

Wow Kaleigh,
Thanks for sharing your story. I agree what everyone has said here. You can tell from your posts how warm and caring you are. I think I first pm''d you about your e-ring setting when I was thinking of doing something similar. you were so helpful and full of advice and information and made me feel like I had a friend on PS. and as you well know, I still PM you all the time for advice and info

thanks for making this such a fun place to be

 

[Dancing Fire]

Lisa

WOW!!! what a story.you sure went though a lot of obstacles in life. sorry to hear the tragic loss of your brother.you''re a super mom ,wife and a very caring person

always enjoy reading your post.thanks for sharing.

 

[Kaleigh]

mrssalvo, it has been my pleasure and I do remember your first PM to me. I love chatting with you, that''s what I love about PS. You get to meet such wonderful people like yourself!!!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks Df,
That was very nice of you even if you have a bruted girdle!!!!!!!!

 

[diamondfan]

Kaleigh, your story is both touching and inspiring. I think even our worst experiences and toughest times make us stronger. I am more spiritual than religious and think people are in our world to teach us, via good and bad example. Your family growing up gave you the love and compassion you have now for your family...by the example of not having enough then. Hope your kids are always well, I have had some issues too, with nebulizers for all three kids at varying times...my oldest was on it for three years three times a day without any albuterol as a preventative and we still ended in eroom and stuff a lot, calling 911 and seeing your kid gasp for air like a fish out of water and not having fast response time ages you quickly. Sounds like they are great. Don''t know about you, but the resilience and ability to just plain face stuff amazes me in kids.l They seem to get the bigger picture, are patient and submit to what is needed with grace. I am so sorry about your brother but thank god he had you in his corner. Your mom must have been from that generation that you put on a smile and do not let others outside the family see you have emotion or any unhappy thoughts. My mom was similar, never wanting to hear or deal with anything not perfect. I understand why from her p.o.v., yet it messes with your mind if you grow up in that environment. You are another amazing person here on the forum and I just continue to be amazed at the people I am reading about and feel that I am coming to know such depth and soul from all of you!

 

[Mara]

kaleigh, what insight into your life! as the others noted, kudos for breaking the family dysfunction cycle and becoming a wonderful, loving mother with fabulous children. your grandmother sounds like a real card, my grandmother is very similar, if you guys think i speak my mind, wow...my grandmother blows MY mind with what she says!

my grandmother was also a mother figure to me, my second mother, as my mom worked alot when i was young and she was a single parent, so i spent alot of time with my grandmother growing up. those memories are very precious.

oh and i was recently wondering, what does 'kaleigh' stand for?

 

[Kamuelamom]

Ha! I just *knew* there were many interesting things about you, Lisa. Thanks for sharing of yourself.

Dysfunctionality is something that often takes a lifetime to heal. It''s not an event, it''s definitely a process. Having good, loving, strong people in your life can really make a difference. I''m happy that you''ve found such happiness.

Thanks for being such an awesome part of this forum.

 

[Kaleigh]

Thanks Kmom and Mara. My grandmother is the type of person that will say just about anything to anyone anywhere!! She loves to get a reaction out of people and she can be very bad. For instance we were at her eye Doctors which is the worst cause you sit there for about an hour and the waiting room is jammed with people. Ok so Nanny pipes up in a loud voice, (she's pretty deaf) why did you know that Ellen Degenerous is a Lesbian?? Now what do you suppose they do with eachother??? OMG, I just died and told her to hush. She says why are you sushing me and I tell her that we will talk about it in the car. Meanwhile everyone is staring at me, and my grandmother starts to laugh. Those appointments take years off my llife, I swear. Then she will say the poeple here in this nursing home are crazy, I'm going to write a book about them. I ask what will the title be??? She says, Assorted Nuts!!! One last one this is my favorite. She says if you want to loose weight don't join Jenny Craig just come Live at the Byrn Mawr Terrace. The foods so bad you'll loose weight in no time. She says that if they put gravy over carboard the dummies there would eat it, cause they don't know good food if it hit them in the head!!!!

 

[hlmr]

Hi Lisa:

Thank you for sharing your personal history with us. That you were able to give your children what you did not receive from your own mother, speaks volumes of your strength, tenacity and love. I am sorry that you lost your brother so young...but I am glad you were able to have such an amazing relationship with him with you both being so young and under such duress growing up.

You are a kind and generous poster and one of the first people whose contributions I noticed when I first started hanging around here!

Heather

 

[sevens one]

She sounds like a fiesty gal.
That must have been embarassing for you (but funny)

 

[Kamuelamom]

Oooooh, I know many grandmother''s like them. I think that when you reach a certain age you are entitled to say whatevertheheck you darn well please. And it looks like she realizes that!

 

[Kaleigh]

Yup, that''s pretty much it. When she comes to dinner she has the kids in stiches. She still smokes and loves a good martini!!! Hey why not??

 

[belle]

your grandma sounds like one heckofa gal! i bet she really keeps you on your toes!

 

[MissAva]

Lisa, your story brought more then a few tears out. You are a kind and gentle woman and I am grateful that you choose to share a piece of yourself with us. It sounds like you are a fantastic mother and a solid friend. I am grateful to have you in the PS crowd. *hug* (I love your upbeat spirit.)

 

[Kaleigh]

Matatora,
That was so sweet of you thanks. And I enjoy your posts as well!!!!

 

[BrightSpot]

Date: 6/30/2005 10:11:52 PM
Author: mrssalvo
Wow Kaleigh,
Thanks for sharing your story. I agree what everyone has said here. You can tell from your posts how warm and caring you are. I think I first pm''d you about your e-ring setting when I was thinking of doing something similar. you were so helpful and full of advice and information and made me feel like I had a friend on PS. and as you well know, I still PM you all the time for advice and info

thanks for making this such a fun place to be

Kaleigh, You were my first friend on PS as well when I too contacted you to ask about your gorgeous ring (heck, who wouldn''t!). I can''t tell you how much I''ve enjoyed chatting with you. You have been so warm, helpful, insightful and supportive and one of the people who truly makes PS such a wonderful community.

I''m so sorry to hear about all of the adversity you''ve encountered in your life. I''m choked up just reading about it. You''ve certainly become quite a strong, gracious and loving person & have given your family (your brother, Bunny, husband & kids) the love & acceptance you lacked from your parents. Your family & friends are very lucky to have you in their lives. (as are we on PS!)