Currently, I reside in the beautiful state of Oregon, where the men are men and the women won't give an inch. (They're strong and independent, like all the females in my family.) I've been on the West Coast four years now, working in theatre and touring my club act. I'm very happy here, even though I yearn for family ties and Texas roots.

My mother, Betty Glasse, lives outside of Houston, in the township of West University. She has a lovely house there, just like this one only smaller.

It's where I grew up with my brother and sisters, after Daddy lost everything on pork butt futures. This sudden financial ruin was hard on us kids, who had never understood the word 'frugal' or learned the value of a dollar. But eventually we grew accustomed to middle-class poverty; and over the years we discovered that people could be happy, even when the things they care about are gone.

I remember once, when I was a young girl, I found a stray kitten in the playground. It was a cute little thing, orange and white with one floppy black ear that wouldn't stand up straight. Well, I brought it home and hid it in my room so Mama wouldn't find out. We weren't allowed to have cats because Mama was allergic to them; they made her sneeze something awful.

Kayce the kitten.

Anyway, I cleared a space in the closet for its food and water bowl, and I bathed it and made a little collar for its neck out of Christmas ribbon. I took such loving care of that kitten for three whole months without anybody ever knowing. At night it would sleep with me, curled up in a little ball by my side. As we snuggled in bed after the lights were off, I would hear kitty's soft purring, and that told me I was safe.

And then one morning my kitty died. When I didn't show up for breakfast, Mama came looking for me. She found me sitting in the closet, sobbing and holding the tiny thing in my lap. I was brokenhearted.

And do you know what she did? You know what my mama did? She helped me bury the kitten in our back yard, with flowers and a small cross over the grave and everything. And then the very next day she went out and got me a brand new kitten. Which we named Leroy.

Of course Leroy is old now, and he doesn't get around real good.

                                

But still, to this very day, even with her terrible sinus condition, Mama takes care of him for me. She takes care of him while I'm here in Oregon, pursuing my splendid career.

(I sure hope she reads this. Otherwise, I just wasted two hours.)

MORE ABOUT ME?

MAX CITY

---