July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021
Merle was like my second (cooler) mom growing up. Since Lesley and I became glued at the hip through high school, she was often the grown up I would seek out when faced with a hard line my parents were trying to enforce. I lost count of all the times she played mediator between my mom and I! Somehow she could always get me to see the mom side of the story, teaching me a bit of empathy along the way. Maybe I was receptive to her because she kept teenager hours, staying up all night, which to me was just the coolest thing in the world.
She had a talent for dropping a seed that seemed insignificant in the moment somewhere in the back of your mind. As a young woman who knew everything at the time, of course the ideas I had were all mine, and when I would update her, that famous laugh would come out. Through reflection, I now know of all the little revolutions she planted.
I'm grateful that she got to meet my children while she was still in good health. We'd meet at Civic Centre for coffee after she moved back from New York, enjoying a good laugh at all the things my then 2 year old daughter had no fear of eating, like black olives and sushi!
Her laugh is etched into my memory forever, it's the first thing that I think about when I remember her. She lit up the room with it, subsequently igniting joy in anyone around her, no matter their state of mind. (And let's face it, she could wear a hat like no other!)
I'll miss her dearly. I sincerely hope our stars cross paths again. Love you Merle.
She had a talent for dropping a seed that seemed insignificant in the moment somewhere in the back of your mind. As a young woman who knew everything at the time, of course the ideas I had were all mine, and when I would update her, that famous laugh would come out. Through reflection, I now know of all the little revolutions she planted.
I'm grateful that she got to meet my children while she was still in good health. We'd meet at Civic Centre for coffee after she moved back from New York, enjoying a good laugh at all the things my then 2 year old daughter had no fear of eating, like black olives and sushi!
Her laugh is etched into my memory forever, it's the first thing that I think about when I remember her. She lit up the room with it, subsequently igniting joy in anyone around her, no matter their state of mind. (And let's face it, she could wear a hat like no other!)
I'll miss her dearly. I sincerely hope our stars cross paths again. Love you Merle.