Why Mom Smoked: Confessions of Boyhood Mischief

Dive headfirst into the pages of this darkly comical memoir, where Mom's sardonic reply to the question of her smoking habits echoes through the narrative: "Not enough, John. Not nearly enough." Prepare for a journey into the heart of a blue-collar neighborhood, where hard work, hard drinking, hard smoking, and hard language were the order of the day. This riveting tale kicks off by setting the stage by offering a concise account of how this waning industrial riverward district was founded by dream-seekers chasing the coveted "American Dream." Immerse yourself in a vivid historical backdrop that paints a portrait of life in Kensington during those changing times. The mischievous older brother, John, entangles his willing accomplice, Rick, in a series of naughty uproarious childhood escapades. From the audacious feat of welding broken eyeglasses with a plumbing torch to car ride games of mercy, an accidental clubhouse inferno sparked by innocent "firemen" play, a hairbrained attempt at life-saving emergency surgery on a chicken, to a vigilante mission to cleanse the local park of drug abusers. Each anecdote brims with wild, outrageous humor. Throughout this rollercoaster of remembrances, you'll encounter a vibrant cast of characters, each a mosaic of true-to-life Kensingtonian traits and the authentic vernacular of the era. Get ready to laugh, reminisce, and embark on a nostalgic journey through a world that was as surreal as it was unforgettable.