Me and my sibs
forgave me for almost killing her when I taught her to ride her bike. The tree stump prevented her from flying over Brompton road. As God is my witness, I thought everyone knew you had to peddle backwards to put on the brakes!
Next is Mary, who we lost at a day old, but I would never even consider not including her in the count.
And then there is me. I was always curious and chose the day that new baby Diana was coming home from the hospital to investigate the missing rung on our balcony railing and flew 40 feet onto asphalt. My mom said she couldn’t figure out why my aunt Annie was racing down the driveway heading the hospital when they were just coming from there, so they turned around and went back-sorry about that double take mummy. Come to think of it there were a lot of double takes when I was little. Mother Saint Dolores told my mom that I got the most Holy Cards in Grade One. Honestly? I think I was afraid to go to hell so I was so good. Those nuns could be pretty scary.
Sylvia is our voice of reason. She is my soul sister and Irish twin. I’ve let her read my poetry! I would have to write a book to tell the hilarious, sad, and adventurous experiences we’ve shared. I can trust her to be pragmatic and she can always count on me to be bold - even if my antics make her want to smack me up the side of the head. She tolerates my gushiness when I’ve had too much to drink and need to tell everyone that I love them. It is pretty funny...
Maureen is ‘That Girl’. I love discussing art with her. She had Meredith her daughter alongside Margaret Trudeau. She and Margaret became steadfast friends for a week and we were all so happy that the birth occasioned my mom to meet her hero-pierre. I’m sure Maureen subconsciously planned the timing. She also did endearing things like putting her fingers through the ringer – washer when trying to help. We ran around screaming and Diana pulled out the plug-she was two. See, brilliant!
Carol was ‘pure joy’! We were like kicked puppies when we lost her and pine for her very special laugh. I now understand the depth of the ‘primal scream’. She would do things like let me go when the others tied me to the stovepipe. And when I got caught in the window yelling at everyone...never mind...this is getting embarrassing. We had a private wedding service the Christmas Eve before she passed and she was my Maid of Honour. We needed to get married in a hurry to be eligible for a new loan but my brother-in-law thanked me at her funeral knowing the ceremony had been fake.
Shirley is our tender heart. The soul of a gentle giant so grand and intense are her feelings. She is smart and knows that tears are simply a manifestation of all kinds of emotion–sadness, tears of joy, rage and sublime happiness too. She’s an excellent driver! I remember her taking her hands off the wheel and screaming while moving toward the ditch when a truck passed us. It was fun!
She and I were with mom when she passed. We ushered her out like angels paying careful attention to the very precious journey upon which she was about to embark. Any of the kids would have done the same. Some of us kept my mom’s nighties. I never washed them so I could take in her scent for as long as possible. I did this with Carol’s clothes too. OK. Stop crying now I have to introduce you to Wayne.
Wayne is ‘larger than life’ and the most colourful person I know. He is also the best dancer on the planet! He recently called me when I was having my one COVID-19 crying jag and I told him how his timing couldn’t have been worse but he said it couldn’t have been better. He also showed up when my husband was rushed to the hospital with a heart attack and stayed a couple of days to cook for me. My mom roared with laughter when I told her this as she didn’t know anyone with a lesser aptitude for cooking besides me. That’s how devoted he was!
I can still remember our giggles when we played as children on our beloved Court Street in Sherbrooke. Is there anything as precious as children laughing? What a magical trip it has been.