"My mother was born
in Indiana, near Monrovia, but came to Arizona to teach
in the mid forties, to the mining town of Superior where she met
and married
my Dad (in 1947). They moved to Mesa about 1952. She taught elementary
music there for years before retiring. I don't have any siblings;
I guess after I
was born, they were afraid to make the same mistake twice. She
and two of her
sisters graduated from Mooresville (Indiana) High School, and
quite a few
years ago with my Dad they drove back for a class reunion. I got
to hear
lots of family history after that trip! She always loved animals,
even had
a pet hen (white Plymouth Rock named Gussie) as a little girl
in
Mooresville. Her cousin was about her age, and also had a pet
hen; the two
of them must have been a sight, pushing their hens up and down
the sidewalk
(and steps) in baby buggies. Mom was a music teacher, voice major
through
graduate school at U. of Michigan, good enough to get paid for
coloratura
vocals. She got the biggest charge out of the concerts that the
salukis
sometimes gave her in the evenings! A true musician, she really
appreciated
the differences in the range, expression, and musicality of their
different
voices. I think they made a special effort for her. She loved
all my dogs,
our 23 year old cockatiel, the rabbit, and even the mouse and
rat (she wasn't
awfully keen on the the snakes I had some years ago however).
She had been
living with me full time for the last several years and I think
the salukis
all felt they were equally responsible for her well being. When
I had to
leave the house to shop or run errands, I was so glad that she
had them to
watch over her. It is wonderful to have this memorial for her;
she was as
great a saluki friend as you could ask for. Mom had to go to the
hospital
on the 21st, the day after her birthday, which came on Easter
Sunday this
year. She will always be remembered as the cheerful, kind and
courageous
woman she remained in spite of severely crippling and painful
arthritis. Her
mind remained sharp, and her humor unfailing. There have been
no saluki
songs since she left. The dogs are devastated too."
May 13, 2003