Évéline

Today is the fourth anniversary of my mother’s death, a time to think about an extraordinary woman and her gifts to me.

This fall, I have been wrapping myself in my mother’s long beige wool coat.  It was her signature, really, the elegant, timeless look that she always favored.  When she died, I just couldn’t give it up.  I tried it on.  It was a little short in the sleeves, but fine otherwise.  A pair of gloves would take care of the shortfall, and I could bask in my mother’s warmth.

I am so lucky to have had a mother who:

·  was 35 when I was born.  Her age allowed her to think outside the parenting box, to my great advantage;

· had a fifteen-year career as an X-ray technician: careers for her daughters were non-negotiable;

· monitored my language (see last blog post);

· insisted on doing things correctly, whether it was vacuuming, or turning the knife blade toward the plate when setting the table, or always using a bread and butter plate, or putting in a zipper;

· was creative—she could draw, make decorations with paper, create a Japanese wig with coarse wool and the balls from roll-on deodorant, as well as a luau pig from chicken wire covered with cloth and colored with pastels by coal-oil lamp during a spring storm power outage; 

· insisted that, “from those to whom much has been given, much will be expected”  (Luke 12 :48);

· always celebrated birthdays and anniversaries with a special meal and a homemade cake;

· used the good china for the family;

· never, ever, gave in to physical challenges she faced throughout her life;

· was indomitable;

· had a real, practical sense of God;

· had an innate sense of style, and could wear a hat with unmatched flair;

· told stories while we watched her sew;

· could do anything with fabric—sew wedding dresses, graduation dresses, coats, suits, quilts for her grandchildren, dance skirts.

· lived her life for others;

· loved with every fibre of her being.

All I can say is, “Thank you.”