Widad's Memoirs - Part 10

I lived with George for thirty years. Those we're the happiest days of my life. He was honorable, trustworthy, honest and loyal. We had five children, three sons and two daughters.  I remember when I was pregnant with our first child, Nihad.  My mother was also pregnant at the time and delivered a baby girl, who sadly died of cardiac disease related to Down’s Syndrome.

All my children were very good and helpful. They all respected their father and me. George had a successful business; all his customers loved him. Nihad always helped his father, even from a young age; after school, during summer vacations and even when he went to college.  A couple of times, we had severe rainstorms that flooded our store.  It was amazing how Nihad and Nadir, like real troopers, hustled to help their father clean up and regroup. Nadir was only thirteen. George was so proud of them.

The worst thing that ever happened to me is when George passed away on Sept. 21, 1980. I was devastated. For many years, I would cry all the time.  I just was not myself.  I started to go to church often and prayed constantly. I think that's what got me through. 

My oldest son, Nihad, took over the business. He did great in business, fair and honest with the customers, and always polite with them. Nihad got married, had three sons and a daughter. Nadir became a pharmacist and married, and had four kids; two boys and two girls. Norma, Najwa, and Kip work for private businesses.  Norma is ShopRite’s number 1 girl. She was always honest and hardworking with them. She is also my best friend. She is loving, helpful and kind. You can always depend on her. Kip, my heart always went out to him losing his father at the age of thirteen. He missed out on those years of his father’s love, but he turned out to be a very kind man. Najwa was the very headstrong one. She did well at her job; she was smart and very pretty. She was like the queen of the family, always wanting to be waited on, ha ha.