Monday, July 27, 2009
Remembrances of my Aunt Ellen -
She was like a second mother to me whenever Cairenn and I were together. If we came down to visit, Aunt Ellen would let me go to school with Cairenn. She tolerated our silliness and made-up skits; allowed us to stay up late to watch Midnight Special (and would threaten to sing to us until we got out out of bed the next morning). She always had room in her house and heart for family and fun. When Cairenn and I broke a dining room chair, we thought she would get so mad, but instead she let us set it up to have Uncle Eddie think he broke it. She thought it would teach him to not swing his foot up onto her chairs when taking off his dirty work boots. Aunt Ellen was a very good cook and I always thought it was magic how she made food appear for everyone. I will always remember her hands: deftly sewing clothes; resourcefully keeping house by re-using, re-doing, recycling and renewing; and lovingly providing comfort and care through the generations. She passed along many legacies: the pride of family; the value of compassion and caretaking; the sense of gentle good grace and sense of humor; respect, appreciation and attention to detail; AND the Marleau chuckle (you know, the one when she held a baby, or the one when she delighted herself with the ability to make a point!
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