Thank you for this, Stew. May her memory be a blessing (I know it will). I love the triple portrait. My mother was a Martha, and so is my only sister. (There aren't many Marthas these days!).
Such sweet connection. I’m sorry you all lost your Martha too early, not that we are ever truly ready. I’m so fond of her Family Gallery. Having long admired homes with walls of family photos (picture those that are hung in stairwells and hallways), I finally created one after my mother died. On seeing it for the first time, one of my brothers remarked, “Wow! You saved SO MUCH.” Indeed.
I feel fortunate to have siblings I enjoy spending time with, though we do it infrequently. Thank you for this lovely reminder of how important these relationships can be, when they work.
Lovely Stew. I have always learned to have siblings that I shared with and cared for. Alas, not too be. But you've brought me closer to the experience with this posting. Thanks
Thank you for this, Stew. May her memory be a blessing (I know it will). I love the triple portrait. My mother was a Martha, and so is my only sister. (There aren't many Marthas these days!).
Thank you, Susan. Sorry it took me so long to reply. I spent this week with my other sister with her family. It was a cherished time.
Thanks for your comment. And the Martha connection. Agree - it’s a very mid-last century name. And connected to some very special people!
Such sweet connection. I’m sorry you all lost your Martha too early, not that we are ever truly ready. I’m so fond of her Family Gallery. Having long admired homes with walls of family photos (picture those that are hung in stairwells and hallways), I finally created one after my mother died. On seeing it for the first time, one of my brothers remarked, “Wow! You saved SO MUCH.” Indeed.
I feel fortunate to have siblings I enjoy spending time with, though we do it infrequently. Thank you for this lovely reminder of how important these relationships can be, when they work.
She also left a series of ancestry essays, where she traces back our family to our eight great-grandparents. A gallery in words!
Wow!!
Lovely Stew. I have always learned to have siblings that I shared with and cared for. Alas, not too be. But you've brought me closer to the experience with this posting. Thanks
Thanks for your generous comment. Such a connection is rare, I believe. We can’t choose our sibs. I got lucky.
This is truly beautiful Stew. Such a lovely reflection on the deep and lasting connection between you and Martha and Pat.
It reminds me of e.e.cummings’ poem that Michael Hedges set to music: “i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart, i am never without” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/49493/i-carry-your-heart-with-mei-carry-it-in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiIUTEMTlwM
And how perfect that little Pippa was born on Martha’s birthday. The continuum of life, as you say.
Beautiful, Stew!