What a wonderful occasion to share a few “Memorable Moments”. Of course time and space would fail me if I tried to write them all, so I decided to narrow it down to a one-on-one time that I spent with each of my three children.

In 1983, I married James Duffy Jr. and together we produced three lovely children. Gina, my oldest and only daughter, followed by two sons, Christopher and Justin. Each of them so special, so unique and I feel blessed to have given birth to them. My experience being their mom has been glutted with one reward after another, and the challenges, very few.

Gina who is now 29 years old is a smart cookie. Being the only girl, she at times felt slighted, always having to trek along to her brothers baseball games and tournaments. Her dad’s attention was laser focused on grooming his ‘Boys’ to be future Pro Baseball Players. Keenly aware of her need for personal attention, at times she and I would do things together. I really enjoyed that time when I was house-sitting my neighbors home and Gina and I decided to Crash there for our movie night. We brought a blanket and snacks and we stayed up all night snuggled up drinking hot chocolate, and watching Jane Aire Movies.

A Memorable Moment with my first son Chris was when he was about 12 years old and we went to our local Mall in Orlando Florida. As we were entering the mall I asked him to please open the door for me and he did a half job at it, and let the door go a bit too soon. I decided it was time to teach him how to treat a Lady, so I went back outside and asked him to open the door again. Again he let the door go before I could get completely inside, and again he had to keep repeatedly opening the door for me until he got it right. He became very angry and of course he was embarrassed by all the spectators, but I was determined to teach him to be a gentleman. I do believe my persistence paid off because now he is 26 years old and I heard from several sources that he is a TRUE Gent:)

Finally, a Memorable Moment of my youngest son Justin whom I’ve been accused of “Pampering”. I am no longer in denial of such accusations, although ambivalent about having done so. What Can I Say? I have NO EXCUSE for such behavior except to say “this was the last baby”, and I guarded him like a ‘Hawk’. Tell me I wasn’t thinking about his safety when he had to go in the swimming pool at 6 years old wearing Arm Wings, a Waist Ring, and a Life Jacket, not allowed to go beyond the shallow end of the pool at that! To this day we have video footage of him in all that Safety Gear Floating on Top of the water all by himself with Pattie Labelle’s Music playing in the background and Guess what song she was singing? You Guessed it right! “On My Own”… As told by Sarah Borden Duffy, daughter of Joshua E. Borden Jr. and the late Evelyn Nelson Borden Smallwood. Granddaughter of Dearly Beloved Joshua E. Borden Sr. and Channie Bessie Borden, Great Granddaughter of John Louis Borden and Cottie Elvira Eason Borden, Great Granddaughter 2X of Joshua Borden and Judah Austin Borden, and Great Granddaughter 3X of Ben Holden.

Memorable Moments

I have so many cherished memories about my growing up years, later great memories with my own immediate family. Right now I am banking great memories with my daughter LiRon’s family (husband Glen, son Asa and daughter Bradleigh).  They are truly the best – “adding years to my life and life to my years!!! I also have memorable moments with my extended Borden family, which I will now share.

I loved visiting my Philadelphia family. Aunt Celeste and Uncle Sutton were my “fun” relatives. I remember them taking me to Atlantic City where a relative of theirs marched in a seemingly endless parade with the Eastern Star ladies and the Elks. They were all dressed in white and strutting their stuff in tune with a huge marching band. I was transfixed at the sight of all those black men and women marching proudly while the audience cheered them. It was such a beautiful sight to behold.

On one of my Philly visits I met a girl from the neighborhood who taught me how to do a dance I had never seen before called the “slop” (and I can still do it with some modification). That’s when I learned that the slickest dances came to Philly first before migrating to the Big Apple. I also got to learn and play crochet with cousin Billy and his friends Buddy and Stormy.

My first (and only) roller coaster ride was with my Uncle William Sutton Borden. The family had gone to an amusement park outside of Philly (Wildwood?) during my 2-week’s summer stay when I was about 11/12. This was the summer when cousin Susan was in the hospital recuperating from a serious burn injury. I didn’t want my favorite uncle to know I was afraid so I didn’t scream. We did the ride twice (phew)!

I fondly remember Aunt Celeste patiently teaching me how to make raisin sandwich cookies. Aunt Celeste became my favorite relative because she would buy the good one and two cents candies and eat them with us, all the while my parents were cautioning me against eating candy to preserve my teeth. Were we partners in crime? Should I blame Aunt Celeste for my chronic dental issues?? (Of course not). I am happy to report that as I matured, Aunt Celeste remained my favorite aunt for other reasons, mainly for her generosity, her non-judgmental attitude, her love for fashion, her love for all family and her friendly wit. Yes – I told her all of that. She certainly manifested all of the ingredients that made her a great “Queen Mother” in the ancient African tradition. I was overjoyed when I learned that the “Bells”  (LiRon, et al) had purchased a home just one mile away from Aunt Celeste!

And of course Susan and I are great pals. We are supporting each other with our intentions to stay healthy, to stay balanced and to enjoy all of life’s continuing Blessings. Susan prays harder than I do so I feel especially Blessed. Amen!