In 1991, I graduated from the University of Tennessee and immediately put my degree to use cleaning Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia. One of my fellow custodians was a lady named Maggie. It took me a while to get to know her (because I was in the midst of a major pity party), but once I did, I really grew to like her. She was in her mid-40’s and funny. Like me, she didn’t want to necessarily be there.
Her husband Ron was an Eastern Airline pilot. Because of the pilot’s strike, Ron had lost his job. Maggie, who hadn’t had to work in years, got a job as a custodian to keep the family going. I knew her oldest son Kevin — he and I had worked in many of the same places growing up. She also had another son and a daughter.
One day Maggie came up to me and asked, “My daughter broke up with her boyfriend. How would you like to go out with her?” First of all, her standards for her daughter were remarkably low. Second, I’m not sure that her daughter was in on this deal. But in a few days, Maggie brought her daughter up to my second job at a local golf course — and promptly locked her keys in her car. I got plenty of time to get to know her daughter.
I used to think being a janitor was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I know now it is the best. If I had not had that bad moment, I would not have had the four best moments in my life — I got to see that daughter walk down the aisle and our three boys born with her blue eyes.
My wife is very close to her mother. I’ll admit Maggie and I have had a few arguments over the past quarter of a century. She’s tough, stubborn and opinionated. But I respect the hell out of her. I saw her work her butt off to keep her family together. Her work ethic is second to none and her loyalty is something we all should aspire to. Maggie is a great mother to my wife and grandmother to my sons. On this Mother’s Day, I’m glad she is part of our lives.