Remembering Marfa…

Remembering Martha, aka Marfa, aka Mammaw ~ two years ago today

Among the many things I learned from Martha over the years, there are three that stand out:

1. Stand up straight!

Martha was always correcting my posture! I tend to slump from my shoulders. She was always pulling them back, helping me to stand tall and face the world head on.

2. Stir your ice cream!

I was never allowed to stir my ice cream at home as a kid (my mom even doesn’t really know why they enforced this other than, that’s how they were taught and don’t play with your food). But at Martha’s, not only was it okay, it was encouraged! What a gift for kids to have adults in their life in addition to their parents to encourage them to color outside the lines. Related to this was: always rip the paper when you are opening a present.

3. Always hug with both arms!

Martha was a hugger. It didn’t matter who you were - someone she had just met or a lifelong friend - when Martha greeted you, you got a hug! And if you tried to give a sort of non-committal one arm half hug she would be quick with the reprimand and correct your half-huggedness.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years. But those of us who knew Martha carry her with us - and most especially when we stand up tall, stir our ice cream, and hug with both arms!