An orphan's lament

15 February 2010-  Ugh double ugh and triple ugh.   Margery Kay Dorich Ashby is back with her honey tonight.  Exactly six months since my pops decided to blow this popsicle stand, he called his best girl to be with him.  She had had one hell of an 8 month stint.  Surgery, rehab, chemo, death of her husband, loss of her home and compounded by a broken heart.  No wonder she had to go.  Missing her so tonight as only her baby could.

 My own superhero of sorts.  Always kind, always available, always a helper.  She used to get stopped a the grocery store and would never acknowledge that she never knew the person who indeed knew her, as Mrs. Ashby.   Homeroom mother extraordinaire, band mom, girl scout leader, boy scout volunteer, PP chaperone, any field trip chaperone as well.  Think I remember one year when she was beat out for homeroom mom.  Those parties sucked the big one that year.  No party like a Cookie Lady party.
She could bake anything and unlike the current cake heros, hers were all frosting.  Suck that one Cake Boss.  No reinforcements unless it was egg whites.  I grew my aversion to buttercream after swiping many a rose that was chilling in the freezer.  No fingers in her batter, that would prompt the spoon to come for a swat.
She and I did butt heads.  Nothing more memorable than the time she sworn I would eat the oatmeal at camp.  I think we started breakfast at 8 am and by 10:30 she was done.  Score One for the child!
She cried when her baby got her hair cut off.  She cried when my brother moved away for a job.  She cried when my sister broke her door.  She never cried while volunteering for funeral service at the parish she was a premier member of 34 years and counting until today.  40 years in Arizona.
She helped me get over a heart break.  She was clued on to Chad situation from early on and relished that fact.  She came down to see us run a half marathon.  Came to party with us when it didn't mean she had to drive at night.  Came twice to Houston and earned her passport stamp to France.  A simple girl from Great Falls, Montana made it far in this world.

My absolute favorite picture of her.  In full glory as my father fell in love with her.  Bubble with a french seam.  She cut it short after the wedding and then was full Mom mode.
The nicest person in the world is no longer with us.  Shame if you didn't meet her.  Then you will never know her prized biscotti recipe or the trick to always looking chic, rum raisin lipstick.  Even yesterday with her emesis tray and O2 up the nose, she was still classy with her rum raisin lipstick.  And you will never read her stream of consciousness letters.  Always signed Love Mom-Marge for me and Chad's benefit.  Her devotion to motherhood is legendary.  Scads of her children will be there for her final service on this earth.  And all will remember to do right in this world because it truly is the right thing to do.
She is riding the city bus with my father tonight.  Don't forget to pull the cord to signal that this is your stop.  Hugs and kisses from me to you.

and again if anyone sends me flowers, I will throw them away.  Please send donations to your local food bank, church, hospice or the American Cancer Society in honor of Marge and Lou Ashby.  That is how she would want it.