It's been a hard summer as my wonderful, smart, talented, and beautiful Mother-in-law Madge slipped away. We said good bye to her yesterday which just doesn't seem enough for me. I wanted to share what a great woman she was and how important she was in my life.
She grew up in a log cabin without running water in rural Pennsylvania. Over her life time she was an artist who did many paintings, a banker, a mom, a seamstress, a quilter, a woman of great faith, and a firecracker of lady. Anyone that knew Madge knew she was determined, strong willed, and a fierce negotiator.
Madge told you straight up and never played around. She valued integrity above all.
She and Roy raised 3 of the finest men I know, my husband being the middle son. She was a 'boy mom' before anyone used that term. The scout leader who taught them all the things. She didn't just assign tasks, she was right in the middle of it showing them how to swing a bat, build a bookcase, and use band saws.
When they bought their first home Madge and Roy lived across the street from my mom and her parents, and next door to my Great Grandparents. Madge and my grandmother worked together for a short time at Bell Telephone company. And she knew when my mom became pregnant with me because... well.. I think my grandmother told the universe.. you heard right?
I officially meet Madge when I was 17 on my way to college. A cute boy that lived there asked me out and the rest.. was history.
I thought I'd share a few things my wonderful Mother-in-law taught me
- She taught me so much about fabric. Madge was a beautiful seamstress, she made her own clothing and even a few bridal growns for people but said that sewing for other's was too stressful.
- Sewing a buttonhole by hand for an outfit was much easier for her than using her machine (I wish I'd learned her tricks)
- She was a GREAT story teller. I loved hearing her tell stories about her mom's adventures out in the country .. always with a huge laugh about some crazy thing that happened.
- She was my best friend. We shared so many interests. For years Madge and I would go shopping and have lunch, talking over the things that went on in life like any two really great friends do.
- As a bank manager she helped so many people in her community. I'm most proud of the work she did to help people start their own businesses. She gave them advice and bank loans, then followed up with them. Anywhere we went, people would stop and talk to Madge, she seemed to know everyone.
- When I got a red Camaro I think Madge was more excited than me! She told me she would 'teach me to drive fast around the curves'... let's say this was NOT my goal in life. She had a lead foot, loved fast cars and drove them like they were meant to be driven, fast! She adored her stick shift and was not happy when she has to get 'an old lady car' that was automatic.
- She loved dogs.. REALLY loved dogs. Telling me once that the reason dog's don't live as long is so that we can love more of them. So here is my 'Dog Story'. I wanted a Dog really badly and 'the shipping department' was not so keen on it. One time Madge saw an advert for a giveaway of dogs and decided I should have one. I was afraid that the husband would be upset, but she assured me if he REALLY didn't want it, she would keep it. On that day not only did I pick up my first dog, but my Father-in-law decided he wanted one too! We got in the car to leave and Roy was hold a dog. Madge says what are you doing? He said 'I want one too' .. so off we went with two adorable puppies!
- When I decided to learn to quilt Madge told me she was going to wait until she retired. I told her if I had a busy full time job and was learning so could she. She took that challenge and immediately signed up for classes at her local quilt shop and the teacher was Karen Kay Buckley. The quilt block above is her first quilt and she signed it on the front. Because as a painter you always sign your work on the front.
- With her new passion she founded the 'Hummingbird Quilters' group in her church and taught others to quilt. One of the legacies she started was to make a quilt for every baby baptized.
- Madge and I continued our love of quilting up until the last time I saw her on her 85th birthday a few weeks ago. I always took along my latest quilt for her to see.
Yesterday we went through her quilts so everyone in the family could have some, it is a joy for me to have found her first quilt, I'd not seen it in years.
Hug your family, tell people how important they are to you, and most of all tell them you love them.
