Remembering a Beautiful Woman

Today the world lost a beautiful woman. A woman who loved life and lived it to its fullest. A woman who always saw the beauty in life and in everyone she came in contact with. A woman who saw the good in people, who touched your arm or held your hand when she talked to you, who had a warm smile and an even warmer heart.

I first met her in the spring of 1974 when I began to date her youngest son and we became instant friends. She taught me so much about life, both with her wisdom and by her example. Her favorite phrase was “and this too shall pass” – a saying that sometimes frustrated me because at times I was too upset to think that it would ever pass. But most of the time it gave me comfort because I knew she was right.

This is the woman who was always here for me, always a beautiful light in dark times, a helping hand in times of need, and always – always – my friend. When I had surgery she was the one who took care of my kids and brought meals to us. When I, or one of the kids, were sick she was the one jumping in to take care of us with meals, medication, hugs, you name it. If she thought it would help, she was there to offer before we could ask.

When we told her that I was pregnant with our first child she let out a scream, fell to her knees in front of me and hugged me like I’ve never been hugged. Three years later when I was pregnant with her second grandchild, she let out that same joyous scream and said she couldn’t believe she could be so lucky to have another grandchild. After each of those births, guess who was once again there with meals. Yes, you guessed right. If Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart had a child, she would be that child.

She is the mother that everyone hoped for, the grandmother every child wished for, and the wife that every man hoped to find. In August she would have celebrated 70 years married to the man of her dreams. By law she was my mother-in-law but in my heart she was my mother. I told her my feelings often and she told me just as often that I was the daughter she never had. For the past 35 years we had a special bond and tonight I am missing her more than words can express. After three hours of crying I turned on the television to take my mind off my grief. These words were on the television screen…”and this too shall pass”. It was a political show, I haven’t a clue what they had been talking about, but I know who was sending me the message. And it made me smile through my tears.

Today the world lost a beautiful woman. A world that is a better place because she was here.

Margaret “Peg” Barratt – you will be missed.

1917 - 2010