Ninety-five – July 20

Today my mother, Trudy (Gertrude Marie Quetsch Barry), would be 95, had she made it this far. Like me, she was an only girl with many brothers. Trudy was beloved, brilliant and talented. More than she ever allowed herself to realize, I think. We were very fortunate to have such an intellectual, fair minded mother. Her life was not what she expected it to be, but she gave her children many advantages.

I saved this poem by William Martin that very much reminds me of my mother, so, in her honor today, here it is…

Make The Ordinary Come Alive by William Martin

Do not ask your children

to strive for extraordinary lives.

Such striving may seem admirable,

but it is the way of foolishness.

Help them instead to find the wonder

and the marvel of an ordinary life.

Show them the joy of tasting

tomatoes, apples and pears.

Show them how to cry

when pets and people die.

Show them the infinite pleasure

in the touch of a hand.

And make the ordinary come alive for them.

The extraordinary will take care of itself.

Be safe, be well. Happy Birthday, Trudy. Slava Ukraini! Peace.

7 thoughts on “Ninety-five – July 20”

  1. Remembering Trudy with love and prayers.
    Iots of good memories of the days when we would come to visit in Crete Coure with all our kids…..

  2. Mary Beth Sadlo

    I , too, found this to be a beautiful tribute to your loving and much loved mother. Even though I didn’t know her, I think much of her lives on in you. Love to all.

  3. A beautiful poem which says a lot about the special person your mother must have been. What a wonderful smile.

  4. What a beautiful tribute to your mother. I just know I would have loved her. ❤️

Comments are closed.