Today I would like to tell you a bit about Mithy. She is my replacement mom as mine died in 2020 after a good long life. Mithy is the mother of a very good friend of mine and she is similar to my mom in that she is English, practical, does not really complain and chooses to focus on the bright side of life. Mithy lives about 500 meters from my house which is also very handy as I have always wished to have a mom who lived just around the corner from me.
Mithy is 95 and she lives alone. She grew up in England and moved to Canada in 1953. She was independent from a young age, taking a freighter from England to Churchill MB alone when she was 30. She worked as what we would now call an executive secretary for many years before marrying Leo, having two children, and then moving around Canada or overseas every five or so years.
She lives in a bright little house with a colourful garden where she grows raspberries, bush beans, snow peas, kale, and garlic. Until a few years ago she did much of the gardening herself, but because of bad sciatica she now has someone do it for her.
When you enter Mithy’s house it feels very calm. One step in the porch door and you are standing at a round table where clearly everything happens. Mithy is on her iPad here, she eats at this table, makes the marmalade, reads, pays her taxes, and does her rainy-day mending. A beautiful pink and red spiky plant sits in the centre of the table, although you can't see it in my photo.
Mithy has only lived in Gibsons for about 15 years and before that she moved often so her friends are scattered. Until about two years ago she walked everywhere and drove as well. Now, with the sciatica, walking is tricky so being sensible she gave up her car, has a walker and a new buggy!
The very cool thing about this buggy is that her late husband's name was Leo and her buggy, just by weird chance, had his name on the side of it.
I asked Mithy about what age she felt she was because in my mind I am about 15 years younger. Mithy answered this way, “I am 95 and that is the way it is. No use fussing about it. I did not like 40 though!” Then I pressed her on how she has adapted to the walker life and she said, “It is a waste of time to focus on what I can’t do. I do much of what I used to do but I just do it more slowly.” Mithy’s days are full. She has someone come in once a week to either take her shopping or help in the garden. She goes out about three times a week and every Sunday she goes to her daughter’s family’s house for supper. She looks forward to a day in the week when she has nothing on.
I have been visiting a bit for tea since Christmas. I might be there more than she would like. I will have to check on that. There are always cookies or a homemade snack on offer and the house is cozy warm. Mithy seems to be interested in everything from politics, to the houses on the street for sale, to what life was like in Pakistan when she lived there in the 50’s. Most of the questions I ask her she somehow manages to turn around so that I am talking about my life. My mom was the same. Maybe that is why I had to visit so many times to get the info for this newsletter.
I could go on for another six paragraphs about this amazing woman but I won’t. I have three more things to say about Mithy:
- To live to 95 and to have the mental and physical attributes that Mithy has I find inspiring. She is a sharp thinker, she is a cup-half-full person, and she has a lot of wise things to say about life.
- I am so thankful that she had a daughter who is a rock in my life.
- Her favourite foods are cheese and chocolate.