My Mum

Mum's Last Christmas 2006

My mum was the greatest hostess, she would welcome friends, family and strangers alike with open arms. All who entered her home would not be permitted to leave until they were filled with the most scrumptious repast, tales of life, laughter a-plenty and promises to return again soon. She could whip up a banquet from her humble pantry at any time of day or night for one person or for a crowd and all with seemingly no effort.

Mum played golf, as did most of her family and she had a store of humerous anecdotes to recount at any given opportunity. Like the time she and her sister were driving to Napier to play golf at Waiohiki when they either broke down or were pulled up for speeding (my memory of her stories is letting me down here). However by using their charm and alarm on the traffic officers who attended them, (actually I think they had broken down) the officers pulled out a tow rope and attached it to their car and towed them full speed to the golf course where Aunty Lil was competing in a very important match. The traffic officers even assisted by getting their golf clubs out of the car, assembling their trundlers (golf club carrying devices) and one of them ran with Aunty Lil's all the way out to the first tee to help her get underway on time!

Mum and her sisters had so many adventures and I used to love listening to her stories at any family gathering.

In her later life, I looked after mum, caring for her through illness and infirmity until she finally passed away. I was holding her hand when she died. I knew it was coming. The Spirit had awoken me in the early hours of that morning and said very clearly that this would be her last day. I was sad for me but I was glad for mum. All her suffering was finally over.

I was blessed to take her name through the Temple, to have her sealed to her parents, to my dad and to have myself sealed to them. Now I look forward to the day when when we meet again as an eternal family on the right hand of God.

We're a teeny bit famous

A while back there I posted "What's In A Name?" http://grandenny.blogspot.com/2009/03/whats-in-name.html

Well the saga is not quite over, last week Justine, Major and I were part of a feature that appeared on Campbell Live NZ TV3, highlighting our plight and disappointment at not being able to register Major as a first name for our wee darling.

The camera crew came with the pretty young reporter and all the lights, cameras, sound equip, it was all very exciting! Justine and I flew around the house in an absolute frenzy tidying and polishing before they arrived. The neighbours came out to stare when they spotted the TV vehicle outside. I rushed to my room to throw on a splash of makeup, hoping I would be able to think of intelligent sounding answers at the right moment.

Major was just too cute for words, smiling at the reporter, the camera-man, the couch, his feet, photos on the wall.... He was perfect actually. The reporter asked if she could hold him while they filmed her intro. Right on cue, he smiled and gurgled happily at the camera, the reporter fell in love with him and the producer was impressed. His mother beamed so smuggly, yes she really has produced the best behaved, cutest baby she knows.

All too soon the adventure was over and I had to rush back to work making sure I emailed and texted all my friends, relatives, casual acquaintances etc to invite them to tune in to watch it that night. They even let me go home early from work so I could catch the show. Right after it aired the phone ran red hot, everyone wanted to tell us they'd seen it and how great Justine came across, how cute Major was etc. The next day the feedback started; everybody has an opinion, some agreeing and sympathising with us, others saying it was a ridiculous name to call a child.

But that was last week and now it's this week and I've watched the interview almost as many times as I've watched Twilight!

Anyway if you'd like to see it this is the link http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/When-a-babys-name-is-a-Major-problem/tabid/367/articleID/101815/cat/84/Default.aspx#top

I'd just like to say, I know Major is an unusual name but it was my dad's name and I'm proud of my daughter for having enough love for her grandfather to want to name her son after him. To carry the name of a beloved ancestor is an honourable endowment. I believe it will give Major a sense of belonging and will reinforce the tenet that families can be together forever.