Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Ten Years Gone...

"My mother was a lady."

That's how I began the eulogy for my mom, who died ten years ago today.  

Summer delights at the lake!
My mother Ruth, her brother Bill, parents Walter and Margaret Davison,
ca. 1920

Front row, second from left...


Dating my father, John Gillies Rennie
(known at that time as Gill)
Circa 1933 
Mummy and me - York Beach Maine
Summer of 1956

Mom and me - Cochrane, Alberta
Circa 1996
Margaret Ruth Davison Rennie Daniel
June 8, 1916 - January 21, 2004

AKA
Ruth
 "Cola Bottle" (she had a 17" waist -- no corset! -- in her teens)
Mrs. John Rennie
Mummy
 Mrs. Reg Daniel
Mo-o-om!
Grandma

"Don't take yourself so seriously."
"Make sure you marry a man at least as intelligent as you are,
or you'll be bored."
"Then another cow flew by."
"You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die."
"You could fall in the bathtub on a bar of soap."
"I'm a recipe cook and a pattern sewer."
"For goodness' sake, find something to DO!"
"I have eyes in the back of my head..."
"Just a minute! I only have two hands!"
"Just wait till you have children of your own!"
"Anything to keep the peace."

She variously taught us how to 
make our beds, do the dishes, set a full table, eat with the correct utensils, make a decent pie crust, cook a roast, iron a man's long-sleeved shirt, iron table linens, use a wringer washer, hang laundry on a line, fold sheets and towels correctly, dust, wrap gifts, bake and frost a cake, read, swim, knit, embroider, sew garments, polish shoes, write thank-you notes, shake hands firmly, and stand up straight.

She relished "skinny dipping"; a sun-porch or living room full of her children and their friends; scotch on the rocks; Revlon's "Love that Red!" lipstick; a full breakfast; rum hard sauce on her Christmas plumb pudding and 'fiery' tomato relish on her tortiere; fishing from a boat or through the ice with Dad (Reg); knitting for her children, grandchildren and charity; keeping in touch with her closest friends and family, reading 'good' novels; dancing with her husbands; the love of a series of mutts (dogs); sitting in the sunshine; ice cream; long camping trips, seeing the sights of North America; the mist of Niagara on her face...

A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go.  ~Author Unknown

Hug you, Mom.


6 comments:

Peggy said...

It is such a blessing to have wonderful memories of one's mom.

elle said...

Isn't this interesting! I decided a few days ago that my big project will be some kind of booklet and then I decided to focus the book on my mum, well and her mum as well! Great minds and all that!

Regina B Dunn said...

Your mother sounds like she had a full life and valued the important things. Wonderful that you posted about her so that we, who didn't know her, can also say a prayer for her and know that she was here.

Kitchener Quilter said...

Loved your tribute to your Mum. She is still so vibrant in your photos and words. Thanks for posting it.

els said...

What a beautiful tribute to your mom. She must have been a wonderful lady. Guess it is in your genes!

Linda A. Miller said...

Thanks for sharing your heartfelt tribute, Margaret.