Our Amazing Mom category is dedicated to sharing amazing stories of what moms are doing with their cameras.  But when Genie told me she had a special post to share about her mom that just passed away, and her new mom…there was only one category for this post.  Since we are all connected to a mom in some way or another, may your spirit be blessed by Genie’s story.  Thank you Genie.  we love u, Me Ra and Brian

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Life is so fragile as we’ve seen through Me Ra’s experience with her dad. I’ve had the privilege of being able to grow my family even as it grows smaller.  Meet my new mom, Marje.

Born in Louisiana, lived thirty years in San Francisco, Marje Lee is downright amazing. And truly ‘off-center’ as she says it, in every great way. 84 years old, she’s lived a lot of life. I can tell by the wisdom she gives me as she doesn’t talk much about her earlier life except to say “Think of my ancestry – being African-American and Native American (1920’s and on). You think it wasn’t rough?” I can hardly imagine.

She was friends with my mom, Yuki, who passed away this past January. I was fortunate to have Jennifer Armstrong, one of our Soar! recipients, in town to take some photos just a few days before she died.

They found new friendship when they moved into a lively senior community called The Redwoods in Mill Valley, CA. Both had experienced hardships, prejudice and, I believe, an undying commitment to finding good in the people around them.

Marje taught my mom that it was okay to speak out boldly when she thought something was wrong and needed to be set right. I think Mom showed Marje how kindness can lead the way into almost anything.

A group of friends including Marje had lunch to honor Yuki’s 94th birthday and to celebrate her, all done at Mom’s request. Lindy said it was the “best memorial” she’s ever been to. Each of these friends plus many, many more, helped make our lives happier, easier and do-able as Yuki (which means ‘snow’ in Japanese), grew older, frailer, caught the flu, oxygen 24/7, and more. Joanne watched basketball games and “Dancing with the Stars” with her. Lindy, a pediatrician extraordinaire helped us with traditional and homeopathic medicine. Both made bone broth soups, brought pizza, good laughs and heartfelt boosts of needed help. Barb came whenever called to help with whatever was needed. A solid rock with solid advice. Mary brought laughs and videotaped an interview. Quite a team. I’m filled with gratitude for these friends and many others not mentioned.

From the left are Barb, Abby, me, Joanne, Lindy and Mary. Mom always gave each person something every time they came by to help or say hello. She made earrings for them, gave a piece of fruit or cookies. Of course she wanted us to have lunch together after she was gone. It was just like her. 🙂

Not long after Mom died Marje came by and said, “You belong to ME now.” Now she calls me and says, “Hi, it’s Mom. I need to know you’re okay. Call me.” And I do. Believe me, would YOU vex that woman?

Marje probably has thirty ‘adopted kids’. She has no idea how many.  I take it they came from many different directions – those whose own mothers may have failed them in some way, others who’s were just too far away, or like me, have lost theirs.  They take care of her, celebrate her and see her regularly. The ones I’ve met are ‘off-center’ too. A fun cast of diverse ethnicities, orientations, opinions and ages. I think I’ve fallen into a good new gig. 🙂

She’s inspired me to be deliberate and overt in growing my own family. I’ve done it quietly before this. One younger friend calls me “Auntie G” – too cute. But not having my own kids and only one nephew makes the future seem smaller than it needs to be. Including others who are ‘loves-at-first-sight’ kind of peeps keeps my world growing bigger and more youthful. And it’s a truer reflection of the kind of person that I am.

So last weekend I added two nieces. Abby, who’s in the image above and Hannah, who are best friends just out of college. I asked them if I could be their aunt. (I guess I have my own style, different from Marje. But it works too.) Both are intelligent, caring sweet hearts.

Pardon the iphone image. (We were camping in Mt. Shasta. Unprepared. Will do better next time. Promise.)

Mom was quite a beauty. Although perhaps no relevance to this blog except to honor her, I thought I’d end it with a glamor shot of the times, circa 1934.

She always thought I should be part of a large family.  Thanks Mom….and I mean both of you. BIG love and gratitude, Genie

(Love to you and thank you Me Ra – the beautiful Sony a330 made all the other images possible. For those of you who don’t know me, I work with Me Ra and Brian as their ‘genie’ managing workshops and many other things. :))