Gracias! Stories like this are many, including my own dad’s who told us when we gave up on Jamaica-Queens after only six months: “I’d rather be poor in Puerto Rico than on welfare here”. This was the early seventies and he couldn’t find a job over there, even as a skilled tradesman. So we chose to eek out a living back on the island until the situation improved in the 80s.
God Bless your mom.
Thanks to all contibutors.