1 week Ago
The calendar read Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. It was just a couple days short of Thanksgiving.
A meaningful holiday for so many of us. A time to show our gratitude for many of life’s blessings. For our health.
For our family. And for special moments that make you realize how great you have had things up to this point. I arrived at the New Castle News that day and made it to my desk to begin my night.
As I strolled over to my work area, I noticed a big item with a note attached to it with a name and phone number clipped to it. A quick glance as I picked it up really caught my attention. I saw my late mom’s name, Donna Poniewasz, on it.
Instantly, curiosity took over. What I saw next was just breathtaking. It was a laminated copy of the column I wrote on my mom, which appeared in the Aug.
1, 2022, edition of The News. Emotions certainly took over. It was as if my mom was right there with me.
I definitely wanted to reach out to this amazing person and show my debt of thanks. The column was framed by Susan Cavallo and she told me the story of how it was brought to a local business to have it laminated not long after the article ran in print, and how it had become lost in the shuffle. Somehow, as though a higher power took over, it was discovered about a week ago.
Cavallo received a phone call saying it was found and she dropped it off to The News. I was amazed and shocked. What a pleasant surprise.
Story continues below video I spoke to Cavallo for nearly 10 minutes that night as we shared details of each other. She mentioned how she sensed the close bond I had with my mom and how special that is. I still do have that strong bond actually, it’s just from a much further distance.
I told her how special it is to me that she thought that much of my words on my mom to laminate that column and send it to me. Fighting back tears, mostly unsuccessfully, I told her my mom was my best friend. I miss her each and every day.
Cavallo told me she herself is a mother. No doubt she is a great mother. Some things are easy to pick up on, even in a short conversation.
I can’t help but think repeatedly about the incredible show of kindness that went into this great gesture. My mom’s love and kindness will live on with me. And it will live on with so many others that knew her or even read that column.
I had the privilege of having my mom, whom I consider as the world’s best mom, for 49 years. I give thanks for that time of my life. In a world full of hurt and hate, it’s truly refreshing to see there are still great people out in this world like Susan Cavallo, especially at such a meaningful time of the year.
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