If you want a happy ending, it depends on where you stop the story.
Orson Welles
Yep, I’m still here. I knew October would be a ridiculously busy month but it’s been worse than I suspected. I’ll get the worst part off my chest right away: I lost my birth mom last Friday to cancer. Now I’m truly an orphan with nobody between me and the Grim Reaper. Sigh. Mother was only a month shy of her 74th birthday. Much too young to go yet. Last evening we had a family dinner which included 3 of my 4 remaining siblings plus assorted kids and spouses. The photo albums were passed around and memories shared. It was nice. I got to see my little sisters and brother as babies and children. Since I’ve only know them for 18 years it was interesting to see how much they haven’t really changed! Except for one sister, second-youngest, who was killed in a car crash 20 years ago so I never got to meet her. We also missed our second-oldest sister (next after me) who couldn’t come from Haida Gwaii due to the expense and the fact that her husband has been suffering from heart problems. We’ll all get together again in the spring sometime to scatter Mother’s ashes.
On to a happier subject, the Maiwa Symposium has been really exciting. Since I last posted, I’ve been to a fabulous fashion show featuring clothing from Maiwa, Bleu de Lectoure, the Qiviuk Boutique and Bai Lou. The models were dancers choreographed by Little Woo and the music was by Pepe Danza. T-Man was miffed that I never bought him a ticket!
Then the Woad Workshop with Henri and Denise Lambert last Thursday and Friday went really well. We had two days of turning everything in sight blue! I’ll write it up better with photos as soon as I can. (I’m still working on my Guild’s Membership Booklet which has to go to the printers soon.) I also went on Monday to the slide lecture with Denise Lambert, the fluently bilingual wife of the more reticent Woad Master.
Her passion for the blue of France is infectious and Henri is happy to let her spread the “word of woad” (or “pastel” as they call it) for him. I succumbed (of course) to the book “Le Pastel en Pays d’Oc” by Sandrine Banessey which luckily includes English text as well as French. As well as the history of woad production and use in France, the Lamberts and their company Bleu de Lectoure are featured. There’s even a photo of the famous pastel blue Jaguar, which Denise admits is her husband’s baby – even though it spends more time in the service garage than on the street. Yes, it is coloured with woad auto paint specially formulated in Germany for them. Even Henri’s glasses frames are organic plastics tinted with woad! These people really walk the walk.
More anon. Meanwhile I have my last lecture tonight with Elizabeth Barber, speaking on the subject of her book “Women’s Work: the First 20,000 Years”. Should be eye-opening and thought-provoking. I’ve read the book but it was a while ago now.
7 comments:
oh Louisa, I'm so sorry about your mom...thinking about you. I miss my mom even more now that I have grandkids, they would have loved her.Big hugs.
Oh, my dear friend... I'm so sorry to hear your Mom has passed. In time the special memories will bring out the smiles to replace the tears and regrets.
My mother passed away suddenly at age 61, 14 years ago and there isn't a day that goes by I don't think of her. I'm the 'elder' female of the family now. There is some weight to that job description that you can actually feel.
Yes, it changes everything..
Big hugs to you my Damselfly
Louisa, I'm saddened to hear about your birth mom but the story of your last family dinner was lovely. We can all only hope to get that sort of chance before we go.
Take care.
I am sorry to hear about your mother's passing. My own mother has now been gone for a month. Being with family does make a difference and it is important to share all the stories.
You're in my thoughts. Sending you much love and hugs.
Thank you, my darlings, for all your kind words. It means a lot to me to know you care.
Death happens; life goes on.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Post a Comment