The COMPASSION, the LAUGHTER, and the JUSTICE FIGHTER, these are the things I will remember you for the most. You took care of everyone, looked out for everyone, worried about everyone, fed everyone…then 2 hours later fed them again! You were so, so, polite to strangers, but you were also not scared to stand up and fight, very effectively, if you knew something was wrong. I admired that. It’s me, the difficult one lol…not that I meant to be…I just inherited your individualism! So here are some of the random things I will fondly remember: • The way you would finally relax, at the end of a long day taking care of everything, to play a board game. • The way a glass of wine would loosen up your laughter more – your laughter was truly golden and enhanced some great family moments. • Your ability to laugh at yourself – a talent few possess • Your arms which could stretch to superhuman lengths when you, somehow, managed to reach that tennis ball that seemed unreachable (the arms that, from my eyes as a child, seemed to multiply and flail like Rivera’s (Monsters Inc.) when you were angry at me for doing something wrong 😉) • Your yummy home-made puddings. • Your incredible work ethic that lead you to work harder than you should. • The way you always looked out for your kids. • The way you saved Neil’s life by jumping into the pool when he was drowning. • The fact you rode a motorcycle…yeah, bad-ass mamma points for that one! • The way you would sing in the kitchen, eh…admittedly with some wordsmithing. In all your busyness and preoccupation with the necessary household tasks, an occasional gem of wisdom would surface, such as when you told (moody) me that it is hard to be happy all the time, so it better to strive for contentment. Thank you for that. Thank you for all you did for us. I will endeavor to remember the life lived, rather than the love lost.