Myra A Leo

This is my second book as a true story of my son, and it is called Joey. My first book was called The Silent Years, and it was the story of my daughter, Lynn Ann Leo. My husband, Joseph Pooky Leo, and I were married in the 1950s. We were young and had to learn many things. I was homesick for my parents in New Jersey. We lived in Pennsylvania for over fifty years and then moved back to New Jersey to catch many fish. I was accepted at several colleges and was almost ready to attend Indiana University. All this changed when I met my future husband. Joseph was a mushroom grower and worked seven days a week. He was old-fashioned, and since he had his own business, he liked to be in control of everything including me. I had different ideas, but I did obey. Kennett Square Pennsylvania is known as the mushroom capital of the world. All our friends were in the mushroom business, and we stayed friends even to this day.

"To All Parents." "I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said, "For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's dead. It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three, But will you, till I call her back, take care of her for Me? She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief. "I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return, But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true. And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes I have selected you. Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain, Nor hate Me when I come to call to take her back again? I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy Will be done For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may, And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay; But shall the angels call for her much sooner that we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand." Taken from "All In A Lifetime" by Edgar A. Guest.