Deborah Friedman

It was all the bold, colored headlines with my mother and the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe. And I remember thinking to myself, everyone knows about my mother now.

It was all the bold, colored headlines with my mother and the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe. And I remember thinking to myself, everyone knows about my mother now.

I know that people were always asking her, what do you think? And people were very impressed with her, her style. She really knew how to put things together and understood how to dress up a house. Like you dress yourself up and accessorize.

I know that people were always asking her, what do you think? And people were very impressed with her, her style. She really knew how to put things together and understood how to dress up a house. Like you dress yourself up and accessorize.

For example. My mother had some beautiful Emilio Pucci dresses, the best of what he was producing at that time. She created a fire in that closet with all those poochy dresses, and she was supposed to get a return for that, like an insurance scam.

For example. My mother had some beautiful Emilio Pucci dresses, the best of what he was producing at that time. She created a fire in that closet with all those poochy dresses, and she was supposed to get a return for that, like an insurance scam.

She had his canvas, his easel, his paints, everything set up for him to just come in and paint. And here I am, I don't know, I'm eight or nine, and I thought I'd have some fun with a drunk artist. So he says, you have a cigarette? You have a cigarette? I gave him candy cigarettes. And he was trying to light them up.

She had his canvas, his easel, his paints, everything set up for him to just come in and paint. And here I am, I don't know, I'm eight or nine, and I thought I'd have some fun with a drunk artist. So he says, you have a cigarette? You have a cigarette? I gave him candy cigarettes. And he was trying to light them up.

The insurance company would rather negotiate with a thief than have to pay out the claim on the insurance. So my mother thought that it was a viable way of doing business. Other people were getting away with it. Why not her?

The insurance company would rather negotiate with a thief than have to pay out the claim on the insurance. So my mother thought that it was a viable way of doing business. Other people were getting away with it. Why not her?

My mother loves to eat and loves a grilled burger. And the smell from the grill a block away would waft in. She used to say, they make the greatest burgers there.

My mother loves to eat and loves a grilled burger. And the smell from the grill a block away would waft in. She used to say, they make the greatest burgers there.

I thought, this is a mensch above all mensches. This is an uber-mensch. What were they like together early on? Albert was like a schoolboy. I mean, he would look at her with these eyes. He never saw her ugly qualities at the beginning.

I thought, this is a mensch above all mensches. This is an uber-mensch. What were they like together early on? Albert was like a schoolboy. I mean, he would look at her with these eyes. He never saw her ugly qualities at the beginning.

Every weekend, Albert would religiously visit my mother and bring Dunkin' Donuts and pizza and nail polishes and beauty products. Albert remained devoted. They even married. Despite the disapproval from his family, they would say, why can't you find a woman who can make chicken soup? Why did you pick such a complicated, crazy woman? And Albert was defiant.

Every weekend, Albert would religiously visit my mother and bring Dunkin' Donuts and pizza and nail polishes and beauty products. Albert remained devoted. They even married. Despite the disapproval from his family, they would say, why can't you find a woman who can make chicken soup? Why did you pick such a complicated, crazy woman? And Albert was defiant.

He loved her, and he thought she was the most exciting, gorgeous, entertaining, charming, brilliant person.

He loved her, and he thought she was the most exciting, gorgeous, entertaining, charming, brilliant person.

But Albert accepted Shirley's... He said he thought the price of marrying a beautiful woman was to marry a crazy one.

But Albert accepted Shirley's... He said he thought the price of marrying a beautiful woman was to marry a crazy one.