This was my mother in her 20's. She is standing on the road in front of the homestead in Manotick, Ontario Canada. It's not hard to see where I got my love for cats. Her family were farmers and there were many kitties born in the barn (we know better now).
My mom was the most capable woman I ever knew. No matter what she turned her hand to, it turned out perfect. She loved to cook and as a young teenager, she moved to the city to put herself through school by cooking for a wealthy family. We benefited from that years later because she was the best cook I ever knew. She worked full-time when I was growing up and I remember as a young girl going to meet her at the bus-stop so I could walk home with her and tell her all about my day. She was a great listener, she had a quirky sense of humour and she was very proud of her kids. She was a rather shy person and very private in her way but she also loved a good get-together and I can still hear her contagious laughter. She was my mom, my friend, my rock. My mother died of cancer 12 years ago. It is a loss that settled inside of me and I live my life feeling her presence and comfort every day. I miss her and am very proud to have been her daughter.