I have never understood Mother-in-Law jokes. Of course my husband's mother-in-law is an incredible woman but my husband's wife has an amazing mother-in-law too!
Ellen.
Family is very important to me and while Derek's family doesn't resemble the (conventional) closeness mine enjoys, not surprisingly Ellen is the glue and we are fortunate to see her on a fairly regular basis. Family is absolutely, extremely important to her too!
A retired teacher Ellen is probably busier now than when she had to commute to school daily. Like her son, she is an avid reader/researcher and a do-it-yourselfer. She keeps a vegetable garden the size of two backyards (really!) and is regularly maintaining her own home, inside and out. Several times a year she ventures to Humboldt, Saskatchewan to spend time with sisters, aunts and other relatives (including her mom up until 2010, who lived to be 99!) who still reside in and around where her family farm was. She and Rick also take short journeys together or spend time either renovating his properties or looking for new ones to buy. In Calgary she maintains a wide circle of girlfriend - of all ages - who she enjoys lunching with, going to speaker series with, and the like. It would be rare for her to miss a sporting event of one of her two talented, active granddaughters and, true to Grandma form, she is proud as a peacock of these girls! (For good reason too!)
And speaking of being a grandma, I think she is equally proud to call herself Brier's grandma! Both Brier (and our cats) know she faithfully arrives with pockets full of treats and they all accost her the moment they hear her voice through our front door. Ellen has taken Brier on many a weekend when we travel by air and we call these visits his trip to the Spa. Ellen purchased Brier a top-of-the-line Radio Flyer wagon last Spring and proudly walks him through either her neighbourhood or ours much to the delight of other walkers (especially seniors) who cross paths with them during their adventures together.
Being Thanksgiving weekend we enjoyed turkey dinner with Ellen and the rest of Derek's immediate family tonight. She always puts on a delicious, homestyle spread and then loads us up with leftovers. (Actually, every time she comes over she brings us food. Pies, pickles, veggies from the garden......hmmm, maybe my mother-in-law doesn't think I can cook! Well, actually Derek IS better at it than me!) But she is generous in more ways than can actually be mentioned. Always caring, always concerned, always interested and always ready and willing to give back, Ellen is always thinking of her kids. (Of which I include myself in the list.) She would drop anything for us and we love her so much for this. For other things too. She doesn't have a negative bone in her body and her patience extends beyond compare. She is a truly amazing woman who I am lucky, lucky, lucky to have in my life!
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