EPILOGUE

In May 1958, my brother John stopped by 924 Tamarack to say Hi to Dad. He found him slurring his words, a sure sign of a stroke.  John called and I joined them along with our family MD who found Dad's carotid arteries clogged.  Dad could stay home until surgery the next am which unfortunately did not go well.

I agreed to stay overnight and we began what turned out to be a night long story telling about "Marie", the first I had ever heard. Dad talked until 4am about his "bride", their courtship, their marriage, raising the children, Marie's illness and death! It was like he knew he was in trouble and felt a great need for the family to know their Mother before he joined her. 

Marie's story is full of happiness, love, comedy, and mischievous.  The princess growing up in a big house with servants, fine schools, rich friends, no cooking or chores, nothing important to do except hang out at the Canoe Club where she met "Daddy", the love of her life and his!  And the children became the love of their life and they would all grow up strong because of that love! 

And then Marie went away leaving Dad determined to keep the family together, with never another thought! I heard the whole story and for the first time in my life, I met the Mother I had never known.  I started writing her story 10 years ago and recently felt the same urgency as Dad to tell the family the story of Marie, before its too late! 

I hope you have enjoyed it too, as I have!  PFF