We met on the eve of a new year. She
punctuated that evening with her bubbly personality and engaging
smile. She had come to us from another time, foreign to us, a period
of despair. It has been five years since that moment when the 18 year
old dynamo entered our lives. A singer/songwriter, with an impressive
resume, 'Lucy' stole our hearts and quickly became family. The tiny
girl with a great heart and mind to match is the editor of the Momsey
blog, my boss and our youngest son's girlfriend.
From the outset, she
insisted on calling me Momsey. No other name would fit. I thought it
odd, considering, we had just met. Day in day out, it was “What a
Momsey” “You're so beautiful” “smart”. (Yes, I am, I
thought. But how did she know? We had just met.) She created the
moniker for the Momsey blog, beginning in March of 2012. Lucy had
thought of many different titles but only one worked. She insisted on
the Momsey! I would be writing about stories important to me. Would I last writing about these historic moments of my life? Time would tell. ... Lucy
would bring out the best in me. ... The computer monitor - or the written
page - whichever 'it' happened to be, that day, would start my journey. ... I began with trepidation. Would others want to read my 'thoughtful' words? Lucy said yes. The Momsey knew stuff. ... She
expected results. There were things that needed saying. The world needed to hear from TheMomsey. (My son
formed the other half of this storied couple. As a film director,
musician, writer, he designed the face of the Momsey blog and the
business cards that attested to this new life.)
My weekly meetings with
Lucy began in March 2012 and evolved, ever so slowly, to lengthy
'cut and paste' emails, by the next year. She was becoming busier and
family pets began to take center stage in my life. Attention to elder
pet care was now a priority for me. Writing would be done in my 'off'
hours. ... Cut and paste became my new thing, the quick and easy
solution to our working 'together.' It took months for me to finally
learn its simplistic, easy 'program', thanks to the ever-patient,
all-knowing editor, Lucy. (I am from another century, I reminded
myself. My learning curve was different. Lucy understood but did not
care. I would learn because I was smart, she would say.) Cut and paste has become the
secret to Momsey's longevity and time well spent. Now, I cut and
paste, all over the place, then send these important stories to Lucy and wait for permission to post them on blogger. We are a team. Moving thoughts and ideas about is easy and fun, now, because Lucy showed me how! We brainstorm, in person, when my well runs dry
or seems to. Lucy expects the best so I try not to disappoint her. (She knows where I live!)
As a ten year-old, Lucy spent two years learning the
computer. Now she teaches me with much patience. She definitely knows
it all and tries to share that knowledge with me, a member of the
generation gap. Between her youth and my advanced state of
decomposition -Ha Ha – we have become a formidable pair, Lucy, being the formidable part of this duo. She is my editor, after all. She is
president of her burgeoning company, teaching all manner of in-home music lessons, to children, and
hires teachers to help her company extend its reach to more families. ... She is an exceptional driver, a
human GPS. ... Lucy gives her best, attracts the best and, hopefully, receives the
best from everyone around her. She never disappoints. I better not
try! She is a great teacher. I listen. It makes me a better person. Lucy refuses to accept
defeat, especially from an old lady who 'could' be her grandmother.
... Her encouragement keeps me thinking of issues that are important
to us both. A slump in ideas and insights are an ongoing threat.
Years ago, the thought of adopting a teen girl, had entered my mind. ... Having no sisters and only sons made my pink, giggly world
of cute and adorable things a lonely place, at times. But having pets in my life helped make up for the shortfall. Now I have girls who make me feel special.
Lucy is one of them. She thought of me as the Momsey long before we
thought of her as a daughter. We take the label seriously. But she
already knows.
Lucy resume is shockingly impressive. She maintained
over 90% average in high school while balancing a high wire act of
unbelievable proportions with awards in economics, music and
citizenship. She participated in many charity fundraising events such
as: BigBrothers/Big Sisters and SOS Children's Villages. Lucy was an opening act at one fundraising event. Burton Cummings was there, too! ... She kept busy because to do so otherwise would have destroyed her completely. We
knew she cared and wanted to learn it all. Little did we know she
had. Music has been her lifeline, her safe place to fall. She has
been a music director at summer camps and now has her own band.
Lucy plays the guitar,
piano and has been president of her company since the tender age of 20. ... She cares deeply for animals and
people alike. Though initially allergic to cats, Lucy is now a proud
a mom to two 'rescued' sister felines. She lives a simple life with
a strong focus on cooking and eating healthy, living with integrity
and telling the Momsey to keep on writing or else! She wants to be a lawyer, too, or maybe a politician who really cares. Her list keeps growing. (Please stop! I think I need a drink!)
Once upon a time, Lucy was a member of the Toronto Youth Orchestra. Whew! In spite of a
distressing childhood, she has risen above her past, to assume her
rightful place, with joy and confidence, in the world and in our lives. She is on a
mission. How she came to be the editor of the Momsey Blog, not even
the Momsey knows. But boy, is the Momsey ever glad!
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