I’ve always said that I won the lottery when it came to my parents. My mom was just 20 when she had me towards the end of her third year of university. Six weeks after I was born, she and my dad packed up the car and moved from Saskatoon to Calgary where my dad had landed a position at Texaco.
Imagine: a new city, a new baby, no money, your 21-year-old husband working long days, and you’ve got no friends or family around.
Like her approach to most everything in life, she rose to the occasion and enthusiastically made it all work. She quickly made friends with neighbours across the hall, raised a baby, worked part time selling Fuller Brush, finished up her education degree, came up with innovative home décor (painting Styrofoam bright neon colours, hanging it on the wall and shining a black light on it for added effect), did all the domestic tasks that women in the 1970s seemed to find themselves doing, and by all accounts had a grand time. And that just gets us to 1972 or so!
On this, the day before her 75th birthday, I want to share 7+5 reasons that make my mom, Gloria, such an incredible mother and friend (and make me the luckiest daughter).
1. She was the best mom ever when I was growing up
No helicopter parenting here! My mom excelled at benign neglect, and I am the better for it. A classic story is from when I was about 10 and sick – yet again – with another round of strep throat. She asked how I was doing. I said I felt terrible. She asked if I would like some NeoCitran and I said that would be great. “There’s $5 in my purse if you want to walk over to Stadium Pharmacy to get it,” she told me. Yet this one anecdote must be balanced out by about 7500 other stories of how she always made me feel loved and always made time for me. The incredible costumes she made me for Hallowe’en (Kermit the frog and the Dad’s cookie box were the highlights). The constant trips to the library to get books. Her trusting confidence that I would make good decisions. How she could make even mundane activities like cleaning the house an opportunity to have fun by cranking up Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and singing along.
2. She is – no exaggeration – the most incredible home cook
“Oh it’s so easy!” How many times have I heard these words as my mom serves out an elaborate multi-course meal, where every dish has multiple ingredients that need to be prepared separately and arranged with care. She is an incredible chef. She can do hearty homey stews, addictive peanut butter marshmallow squares or over-the-top Michelin-precision meals. (Check out the recipe section of this blog to see what I mean.) She buys 25 pounds of tomatoes and makes her own sauce. Her freezer is full to breaking (“I’ve just made 32 batches of Taos Corn Chowder!” is a statement I hear from her every August). Unlike me – who makes a pumpkin pie by opening a can of pumpkin puree (or, let’s be honest, just buying the damn pie at the grocery store) – Gloria heads out to the farmer’s market to select a pumpkin, roast it, scoop out the flesh and then gets to the actual pie making. Let’s not even get started on the time she puts into prepping fava beans! For the last decade or so, we’ve had a standing invitation to head down to my parents almost every Sunday for dinner. Getting her menu a few days in advance is a mouth-watering taste of what’s to come: an always memorable meal, with far-ranging conversations and laughter and too much wine and usually leftovers taken home in an incredibly old Tupperware container.
3. She introduced me to the great outdoors
Some of my happiest memories of my childhood are of being in the great outdoors with my parents. Camping trips when I was a wee baby. Overnight backpacking trips throughout the summer between the ages of four and twelve. Heading to Lake Louise to ski throughout the winter (and waiting more than 30 minutes in line for those slow two-person chairs on Larch in minus 20ish weather). It’s been such a privilege to continue to share outdoor experiences with her and my dad – from wonderful last-week-of-summer holidays on Pender Island to ambitious hiking in Japan, the Purcell Mountains and the Dolomites.
4. Her overexpressive generosity gene
I used to joke that if there was a gene for generosity that my mom’s gene would be overexpressing. I – and others – have benefited enormously from this. There’s the very tangible financial help over the years. There’s picking us up an extra basket of tomatoes at the market or sharing leftovers from an amazing meal. There’s her and my dad moving from Calgary to Vancouver to be involved in Clare’s life, including looking after her at least one day a week when she was a child and continuing to make her a priority in their lives. And then there’s her generosity when she sends us home with random sprigs of dill, a quarter of an onion or a container with a few tablespoons of yogurt before she heads out of town on holidays!
5. Her enthusiasm
“We had such a great time!”
“We had such fun!”
“It was one of the best meals/wines/cocktails I’ve ever had!”
“I think it’s one of the best books I’ve read/movies I’ve watched/concerts I’ve seen!””
Gloria is enthusiastic. She’s all in! 100%. She approaches new experiences with an openness and the assumption that she is going to love it and have a good time. It makes travelling with her such fun, because she is keen to do most anything. She’s going to find the silver lining in experiences that others might find a little cloudy, and she’s going to joyously reminisce about it, either later that evening or in a blog post in a few months. Also: one of my favourite things in the world is seeing my mom do a whole-body laugh – which she does often!
6. Her love of travel and her over-the-top travel itineraries
Gloria left her first career as a much-loved teacher to work in the travel business. She ended up leaving the travel business behind, too, but not her ability to plan and organize the most amazing trips. If you’ve travelled with her (or read this blog), you’ll know what I am talking about! Those folders filled with clippings from the last 40+ years are put to good use as she creates travel itineraries that are wonderfully balanced adventures of physical activity, exploring culture and art, staying in unique small hotels or one-of-a-kind accommodations, enjoying amazing food, and wandering through off-the-beaten track villages and towns.
7. She loves a theme
If you were around in the 1980s in Calgary, you were probably invited to one of my parents’ Japanese parties. After a trip to Japan, my parents decided to go all in on the Japanese design aesthetic and landscaped our backyard with a waterfall, Japanese-inspired gazebo and zen garden (you’ll have to ask them to tell you about the basement with its “whistling” hardwood floor and grassy-smelling tatami mats). Our weekly Sunday dinners are often organized around a theme of the week – be it “pink and green” or a specific spice or a very particular location. She’ll invite us over to watch the Academy Awards and prepare a half-dozen dishes, each connected in some way to one of the movies up for best picture. She transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, something you might take for granted into something memorable.
8. Her commitment to fitness
I started running in Grade 3, inspired by my mom who was one of the leaders of the “jogging club” at University Elementary School, where she was a teacher and I was a student (down the hall). When my parents moved back to Calgary in 1989 after a short stint in Vancouver, we would meet up and run together along Elbow River at least once a week. We ran the Forzani 10K run and I remember when she learned there was a kilometre to go her competitive streak kicked in and she took off ahead of me (and I was unable to keep up!). We ran together when she moved to Vancouver, now replaced by long walks along what we call Chip Wilson Drive. And it seems that almost every day she is heading out to a yoga class or doing an online yoga session with an instructor she met in Oaxaca. She walks for all her errands, including buying her groceries and lugging them home in a heavy backpack.
9. She is the ultimate trooper
My mom is a trooper. She grew up on an isolated farm in a completely different era from today’s obsession with extracurricular activities and she didn’t have access to opportunities she might have had in a bigger town. It means that she learned a lot of things as an adult and (I say this kindly!) doesn’t have the natural athleticism of people who did a lot of sports as a child (like my dad). But she is such a trooper! When we decided to cycle the 300 kilometres between Banff and Jasper in 1987, she gamely learned how to ride a bike with more than one gear and did the trip (complete with a gentle boost from my dad when we had to start on a hill!). She’s learned how to golf, taken up ocean kayaking, done crazily adventurous hikes, skied black diamond runs (she did draw a line in the sand at scuba diving, but happily accompanied my dad on many trips and supported his passion). And when my dad comes up with his ideas about camping in the desert in Oman, driving across New Zealand or Newfoundland, or spending weeks at a time camping in their Land Rover (and off-roading) through provincial, state and national parks, she’s quick to say yes and start making meal plans!
10. She steps up
This is a woman who is there for you. When I am super busy with work or stressed about life, she will show up with a frozen meal and a half-dozen cookies. If I need to talk something through, she’s there. She empathizes with what’s going on, asks me the questions that need asking and gives me confidence that all will be well.
11. Her love of beauty
Gloria notices beauty. Those backpacking trips? My barely 5’2” mom would be carrying a heavy backpack, made heavier by the two-pound flower identification book that she would pull out constantly to identify Rocky Mountain wildflowers. She planned a trip to Minorca this last spring to try and see a specific orchid! My mom finds beauty everywhere, in the smallest details and the largest landscapes. She dresses with incredible style (my preference for consignment and Kirkland-brand clothing shows I didn’t inherit this). She passionately loves flowers, art and architecture, music, beautiful objects, the way the light glows at sunset – and she will go out of her way to find and celebrate this beauty.
12. She’s the person I want to be when I grow up!
My mom inspires me with the way she lives her daily life, and I would live more richly and fully if I followed her implicit teachings: Say yes more often to new experiences. Plan the trip. Reach out to your friends by picking up the phone rather than sending a text or email. Don’t just complain about local politics, get out there and do your part to make it better. Organize get-togethers to mark significant milestones or just for the hell of it. Relish the small pleasures. Seek first to understand. Support your local farmers. Spend time doing things “the hard way”. Get out the yoga mat. Be grateful for the people you love and the people who love you. Buy the flowers. Open the champagne.
Here’s to you mom! (…and a special thanks to my dad for all the photo finding and technical support for this blog post.)
Over to you:
Email her a note or post a comment below to share your admiration for a most admirable woman!
48 Responses
Such a beautiful tribute! Gloria is a remarkable Friend and Mother as Lynn has so wonderfully described. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us.
I would like to add that Gloria is also a very fine photographer. She is an “Artist” in every sense of the word. I am so lucky to know her.
Thank you to Lynn who is very talented as well.
Generous words Karol, TY, a pro photographer whose work has been featured in the Globe and Mail, a place mine will never land.
Lynn, what a wonderful tribute to your Mom. Gloria is so talented in so many ways. So much thought goes into whatever it is …. a meal, a trip, an adventure.
All the extra’s she planned for our trip to Tofino for the 70th birthdays. I have often asked Gloria “when do you sleep!”.
George and I feel so fortunate to have had so many amazing times with the Sully’s.
Happiest of Birthdays Gloria and may your many more.
The Tofino Treasure Hunt–I remember it well, you and Magellan trying to interpret my convoluted clues, searching the place we rented for the goodies George and I had hidden. Trust me, I get enough sleep. Like Dolly Parton, “9-5”, only pm to am. TY Marsha.
Thank you Lynn. It was so lovely to read your words about Gloria.
And Gloria – I’m so lucky to know you (+ Kerry). Txo
(I am coming to these comments ‘late’…realizing after Gloria’s wonderful birthday party that…hey! I haven’t been receiving these blogs. My bad! – I changed my email address.)
And we are lucky to know you and Paul. My bad, too, as I should have cottoned on to your absence from commenting and said something as we can’t change an email address on our end through MailChimp.
Thanks Lynn, and great birthday wishes to Gloria! What wonderful messages and memories, unforgettable!
TY Elaine, our favourite horse-whisperer.
Happy Birthday Gloria! What a beautiful tribute from Lynn! You are such an inspiration and I’ve always admired your remarkable creative talents. Hope you are having a wonderful day!
You’re no slouch yourself in creativity: guitar, accordion and piano playing; belly dancing; gardening; craft projects; preschoolers’ activities…
Wonderful blog today.
Happy Birthday Gloria,
Greg & Estela
Thanks so much. Keep us posted on what you’re thinking re your November election down there…
A perfect tribute, Lynn! Many Happy Returns of the Day, Gloria 😁 🎉 🎂
I have so enjoyed our friendship even though i have only known you only a short while. It has been a privilege to meet you and i hope we will remain friends for a long time, beautiful woman.
We will be friendly “Exes”: ex treasurer, ex chair.
Gloria what a remarkable daughter you have – what’s that saying about the apple and the tree? Best blog post ever. Happy birthday! See you tomorrow at yoga class online.
Wait til you meet her dad; luckily she’s got a lot of him in her.
Beautiful tribute to a truly most beautiful lady.
So glad we met 46 years ago and got to celebrate yours and my big birthdays in Enderby this May. Though how could it compete with our week-long trip in Santa Fe and Taos in 2005?
That was a nice summary Lynn. You accurately captured your mom! Happy Birthday Gloria!
She’s quite the writer isn’t she? And the blog takeover was a total surprise to me. We had a party here this afternoon for YVR friends, and Lynn says everyone she spoke to said that’s all they want out of life–for their kids to feel this way about them. Like you do about that amazing mother of yours—none of us in our family could ever live up to Margie!
Happy Semisesquicentennial Birthday Gloria 🎂. We just showed Lynn’s beautiful tribute to YOU to our daughter-in-law. She was so impressed by the 12 reasons you are a wonderful mother and friend as were Reid and I. We concur!
Two very special ladies who share the same Birthdays, you and my Sister.
Cheers and wishing you many more 💐
Carolyn and Reid
Your daughter-in-law (and step daughters-in-law) and daughter will be writing similar tributes to you in the far-distant future when you reach my age Carolyn. Can’t wait to hear your laugh again soon. And happy birthday to your sister Susan, too.
Lynn, i have non words to discribe how beautiflly you wrote this text.
Your Mom is absolutly amazing women !.
I always wait for her with great joy and curiosity. Each time she she fills my soul with faith , wisdom and hope .
Thank you Lynn.
Gloria you are the best !
Best wishes on your Birthday .
j
Equally, I look forward to a trip to the North Shore to see you, one of my favourite people. How else would I know about Wisława Szymborska, what’s it like to take Italian lessons when it’s your third (or is it fourth?) language, and to go through years of cancer with a positive attitude?
Happy Birthday Gloria!!
We met Gloria in Moose Jaw, where she and her friend were attending Festival of Words. Her love of flowers brought her to our yard where mauve poppies had overtaken the few inches between the sidewalk and fence. Her open heart brought such an instant connection! We had several visits with both of them over several days, with intense and wonderful conversations. It was the high point of our summer, and we will always remember them!
It felt like the universe had beautifully aligned.
Brenda and Dale
The credit goes to Ruth Ann, trained as a journalist and eager to check out what’s happening, for making me her accomplice, well, maybe not entirely…It was also the welcoming spirit of the two of you. Who invites strangers over for a glass of wine on Sunday afternoon?
Happy Birthday Gloria! So nice to see you this summer. I hope you have a wonderful day! Lynn did a wonderful job describing you!
TY Raina. What a great time we had hearing Brent Butt, discussing Project 2025 (which I first heard about from you) and enjoying the warm prairie nights.
Happy Birthday Gloria . It’s been a few years now since you stayed at The Pebble while visiting Halifax for your grand daughters graduation at Kings College .
I have met a great deal of women over my 25 yesrs running The Pebble but truthfully Gloria you stood out by a country mile. I clearly remember your energy, your smile , your zest for life , your no nonsense attitude , the pride you had for your granddaughter who had received recognition at the graduation and the lovely relationship you had with your guy . As a woman you were a powerful role model to me even though we met fleetingly but you are unforgettable .
You walked up Jubilee Road to the graduation. I
was driving down and saw this petite vision on my left. She was wearing a taffeta skirt and the crispest whitest shirt with balloon sleeves I think. It was you , you were a powerful looking woman and I thought I would like to be like her .
Last spring David planned a last minute trip to Lisbon We arrived not having any idea where to go or what to do I thought of you while still at the airport emailed you and you sent me on the most amazing Information that made the holiday for us. I have the best memories of tnst week and a lot of the reasons. Is we followed your suggestions so thank you for your blog . That’s another thing …. your determination and tenacity to keep publishing every Sumday We would never in a million years have found that hot chocolate shop where they source the cacao on some island off the coast of Africa !!!
We are going on our first family holiday in many years to ten Greek islands in 2025 and I’m banking on looking up your suggestions.
I’ve rambled on but hey I’m Irish .
Happy birthday Gloria. It was privilege to meet you Heres to you today and all year through .
Liz
OMG Liz, what can I say through the Irish mist dripping onto my desk?
I’ll trust my response to your kin:
“May the dreams you hold dearest,
Be those which come true,
The kindness you spread,
Keep returning to you.”
Happy Birthday Gloria, Hope to see you one day across the pond in Victoria. A wonderful tribute to your Mom …
Good idea, it would be fun to catch up with you two, our “511” neighbours. Remember Orval teaching Lynn to dance at 515?
Beautiful tribute Lynn♥️😀and hbd tmw Gloria. Have a great day and year!!
Thanks so much Joyce. I was totally surprised and couldn’t read it without an overflowing of tears. If Leigh were here, she would be writing one for you in fifteen months.
So beautifully written! Happy Birthday Gloria.
Our daughter…such an exquisite writer, no wonder her clients love her; Let’s hope they give her tomorrow off…
What a beautiful tribute Lynn. As you may know we have been friends and travelling companions with your parents for over 50 years. Unfortunately we are not home to share her birthday party with everyone. Once more – a great job and so true – Dallas & Pat
You will be missed at the YVR party but we’ll catch up when you return from Norway if you can get “36” away from her ancestral roots.
What a lovely tribute Lynn. You describe your Mom perfectly.
Thanks Nellie. Happy we could celebrate in Moose Jaw this summer.
Happy Birthday Gloria!! So many great memories Lynn. I am so blessed to have such a talented , compassionate and fun SIL. Our visits are always a good time. Here’s to 75! 🎉🥂
The sentiment is shared; wish I had your golf swing…
Hi Gloria! What a lovely tribute to you!! I might add that you are a ton of fun and have a scheming mind – we did have such a great time in the early KPRA days…Happy Birthday to you! XOOX Janey
Who can forget when we were at City Hall fighting the “Ride the Duck” army tank driving down our nieghbourhood’s narrow bike-path streets and councillor Tim Louie said, “How did this nonsense make it to this chamber?” We made a splash!
Happy Birthday Gloria 🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂
You are definitely your mother (Maxine’s) daughter.
Great story Lynn.
The pictures are beyond awesome.
Cheers,
Mom was a better person, a better gardener, a better neighbour, less argumentative, less judgemental, less stubborn…I’ve got more work to do in the last quarter of my life…
Well done Lynn…..and Happy 75th Gloria….(tomorrow). I wonder what she’s planned.
Potato-crusted sausage quiche and tomatoes for breakfast (first things first, right?) Online yoga. Then, a walk along the Iona Jetty Beach Trail in Richmond. Followed by a Lucy Waverman menu than Lynn and Ward are making, which includes roast chicken. With time in between, I hope, to finish Unfriendly Neighbours, a book by Chilco Choate about the shenanigans at the Gang Ranch in BC’s Chilcotin–Magellan and i drove through it last month, a fascinating place.