Monday, April 9, 2018
My beautiful, amazing friend, Marilyn was the matriarch and heart of her family’s seven children and many grands, and great grands. She seemed to know what was important in life. Her house was a dichotomy of cleanliness: you could eat off the fan blades over the stove, and the corners of the basement stairs, but you could trip walking through the living room for the clutter. Later, her collection of special tea pots appeared throughout the house and books piled up the stairs. But, Marilyn kept me going during one of the worst times in my life. She and her children took me in and for a while I was a part of their family, loved and safe. She would pull all of us outside to watch a sunset, then make tea laughing because I wouldn't squeeze the tea bag when it was boiling hot. She was "Mom" to each of her children’s friends, and if they were a little unbalanced, she would often remark with that little wry smile of hers that they were "good" today. If I was feeling sorry for myself, she would take a string and follow me around flogging me with it, which always made me laugh. I think she was trying to teach me that I didn’t have to take everything so seriously. She drank Black Russians, and read books, took a daily nap (and the kids knew to be quiet), then stayed up half the night entertaining everyone. Marilyn occasionally accompanied us to an artist's bar in Detroit, which really made her come alive. She was Isadora Duncan, Zelda Fitzgerald and Phillis Diller at once, brilliant, sensual, elegant and funny. Seeing her many years later, it was as if I had never left. She was so special, and her loving kindness comes through in her children. I loved Marilyn, and intend to stay in touch with her wonderful family.