Pool_1

demands of contentment. Happiness from contentment works. Contentment from happiness lives at infinity. She was 'Momma', because that is what Jazz Man called her. It was suspect that the full designation 'Red Hot Momma' had been truncated. The best, not only of the excellent musicians that peppered her family, but of any of the new breed of musicians who were leading the societal rejection of the past, she gave birth to beautiful music. Her name, to her non Italian friends, was Emily, a derivation of Maria-Carmella as her mother would call for her, in a thick Italian accent, across the back yards, "Hey, Melie," Emily. Momma to Maria-Carmella could cook, could pray, could make terrific wine and beyond that only knew honesty and so could only teach her musical prodigy, Emily, honesty, and banked it in her. It was an account in which Emily reinvested her own children, an account that might not have been opened. An appalling proclamation by the doctor that she could not have children was eased quickly enough. She savored this mispronunciation on the arrival of each of her four children. Maria-Carmella to Emily to Red Hot Momma and then on full cycle to Momma, she was now the bearer of that title. "This is happiness.", Momma instructed passing the spaghetti around for second helpings, "Don't seek happiness which asks more than honesty can deliver. Seek contentment in living of an honest and purposeful life." The children called this spaghetti catechism. A frequent visitor, Father Joe, who was tight with Jazz Man and Mamma since childhood furthered the ritual, "I bless these meat balls, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Aldo, stop hogging the gravy or I'll have to excommunicate you." "Father Joe," Aldo countered, "Dad says you're a born cheater! Plfssszt!"