OpEd: My mom, My hero

My mom, Harriett Block checked into VIP suite in heaven this past week. Lady ‘slotfinger’ passed away two days shy of her 87th birthday.

Harriett Schlossberg grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She was the second oldest of six siblings. Her mother died from cancer when she was 18 years old. Her dream of being an opera singer would end with one last performance at Carnegie Hall. In those years the ‘girl’ belonged ‘at home’ while the ‘boys’ got the business and their freedom. When she was 21 she married my dad. A few years later her dad passed and my baby sister, brother and I moved into her family house. My mom raised all of us and her three younger brothers and sister. She would say she did what she had to do.

Harriett was on the Glee Club and ran for Student Council, (and won), we would sing her jingle growing up.. H..a..r..r..i..e…then you give a little cross at the T, vote for me. and you’ll agree.. the best student president of 233. Come and give your votes to me — I will give you loyalty, H.a.r.r.i.e..TT.

After my parents married they opened a store in Brooklyn. The newly minted wife was held up at gunpoint. The robber took her deceased mother’s heirloom. She told the robbers they would have to cut her finger off to get her wedding band. It made the cover of the New York Daily Mirror.

We moved out to Long Island when I was 8, and mom opened a store in the Peninsula Shopping Center. She organized the Christmas week giveaway at the movie theater for all the stores at the center. Mom kept telling me to go back again and I’ll win. I saw Jack and the Beanstalk 8 times. On the last showing they called my number. I’m positive she fixed it for me.

At times my mom was sort of “Lucy.” She set up a store in the basement of our house and we put signs on the corners after school. She opened a donut shop called Jackpot Donuts and you got a slug with your purchase and pulled a real slot machine she had custom made to win a coffee or dozen donuts. She started this mail order company out of the house, ‘yummies for my tummy’, which was diabetic sugar-free foods when that was just getting started in the 90’s. We grew up with a flea market spot handed down from kid to kid. She made us walk the neighborhood for the March of Dimes. At the funeral my sister said that mom showed her how a woman can be successful in a man’s world.

She was as protective of her cubs as you get. My little brother had stuttering problem. The doctor’s told Mom that there was a person who was causing great harm to Keith by this bullying preventing him from being able to complete a sentence. Mom parked her car at the school bus stop. When Jeffrey Schantz came off the bus she called him over. ”If you tease or pick on my son again I’m gonna have every one of your arms and legs broken.” They lived a few houses away. Jeff’s dad never called my dad to go fishing again.

When I was seven, three kids from the complex grabbed my candy and hit me and I ran home crying. Mom had her teenage brothers round them up and pushed me to go one on one with the bully in the front yard. When blood poured out of my ear my bruncle Ronnie stopped the fight. Even though I got my ass kicked Ronnie put me on his shoulders and called me the winner. Later in life I would ask my mom about that and she would say.. .’you were too soft’.   She wanted her boys to be strong.   

My mom was the driving force behind the birth and building of the Secaucus Outlet Center. While I was off at college she took a small space in a corner of my uncle’s warehouse. One uncle owned the Jordache label for dresses and sportswear, her other brother owned the Gloria Vanderbilt labels for suits and dresses. The Fashion Mate Outlet was the first of its kind. Mom would commute over an hour each way from Cedarhurst, Long Island to Secaucus, New Jersey. I was in college at the time but she hit her stride. There were eight people on the committee to overturn the blue laws and allow Sunday shopping in Paramus County. My mom and a bunch of men. They won.

My parents moved to Vegas in 1997 and my dad passed in 1999. Mom had 25 years on her own with no responsibility. Vegas was fun and Harriett got a job at the NY NY Casino selling tickets to the events, and then took a job to head up the Welcome Wagon in a new Vegas development. She was picked to be an extra in a movie called Rat Race, and made the big screen. So, to her credit, when she was laid to rest at Hollywood Forever she has earned her bona fides.  Our Thanksgivings and holidays were spent at one of the casino’s.  The Palms was our home away from home, the valet parking guys all knew mom by her first name.  When she went to the doctor with pains in her wrist the doctor diagnosed her with ‘slotfinger’. Harriet loved action. She was never depressed, didn’t drink or have any vices other than gambling.  She never dated after my dad.   She smoked cigarettes even after her strokes. She did it her way.

Mom had a firm grip and handshake. Her grip was stronger than most guys. On the last time I sat by her bedside holding her hand, I’d say, one- two -squeeze, one-two-three squeeze, one-two-three-four squeeze. When I went to let go she held my hand tight. I laughed out loud Mom you still got it. She couldn’t talk but she knew it was the end. That was the last time I would ever feel or see my mom again.

My mom was one special lady.  She gave her all to all of us.   In the end, and as I write this it’s clear the apple did not fall far from the tree.   Love you mom forever.