So our family, which was already a large one to begin with, became even bigger once everyone started getting married and having children and in-laws. And every Wednesday and Sunday, my mother insisted that all the families and in-laws come over for dinner. On Sunday, it was lunch plus dinner. And this was every single Wednesday and every single Sunday, unbroken for almost 10 years. My mother was a great one for keeping the family together. She believed the family that breaks bread together stays together.

Unfortunately, it all broke up, principally, because of my marriage to Pearl. Which my mother never expected. Then the family began to fall apart. I feel quite guilty about that, but I'm glad I stuck to my principles. [Thank god for Miss Murphy and her Irish backbone.]