| "Who would you say inspired you most?" As a writer that question has always left me floundering for the perfect answer. And often, I'm tempted to take the easy way out and rhyme off lists of well-known authors--many of whom, at one time or another, I yearned to emulate. Or, easier still, I can dredge up the names of two or three wonderful teachers whose encouraging comments helped fan the flame of a passion smoldering just below the surface since early childhood. But each time I open my mouth--ready to trot out the names of famous writers, dedicated teachers, or encouraging friends whose inspiration and help have been invaluable--I shut it again. For the person who inspired me most was neither a writer nor a teacher. And as far as I know, she had not a single claim to fame. Her name was Gladys; Glad to her friends. And to my mind she couldn't have been more aptly named. Her strong personality, her ability to see the humorous side of any situation, and her tendency to laugh at herself, were all traits that inspired me. Glad inspired me, not so much to write, as to write simply and honestly about down-to-earth people and their problems. Blessed with a wealth of "Edith Bunker style" homespun philosophies, she lavished them graciously on anyone within shouting distance. And more often then not, I find her here between the lines, quietly urging me on; and when I get too flowery and pretentious, she brings me down to earth with two simple words: "Speak English." So I do. Pulled out of school at the age of ten, never to return, after her father was lost at sea, she had no chance at education. However, despite this early setback, Glad became a prolific storyteller. On long winter evenings, she entertained family and friends with stories: ghost stories, witch stories, and hilarious, sometimes off-colour stories about people she'd known--or claimed to have known. Glad knew nothing of male\female roles, and she refused to acknowledge that there was anything a woman couldn't do. Caring not a fig about what people thought, she dressed outlandishly in work shirts and pants, while her female friends wore sensible house dresses. Building a scaffold and climbing up two stories to paint her house, whistling while she worked, she scandalized the neighborhood on more than one occasion, while her embarrassed husband and children tried, unsuccessfully, to make her conform. She often sang--mostly hymns--and thought nothing of changing the lyrics to suit her fancy. The results were often less than reverent. On any morning you could find a line-up at her door, for Glad was also the local fortune-teller. She read palms and tea leaves for many years; and the only charge for her services was the promise of a cup of tea and a chat afterward. Although she talked excessively, she was also a wonderful listener. As her daughters grew up, her house became a haven for teens. Many stayed with her during unsettling times in their own lives; and later, though they moved on, they never forgot her. When her own girls came in from a date or a dance, Glad would be waiting up, her feet on the oven door and the kettle on for tea. She had to know every detail of every outing, and keeping secrets from her was next to impossible. When her children all wanted to spread their wings at an early age, she didn't hold them back. She let them go with little fuss and much practical advice: Be yourself; Smile and the world smiles with you; It's better to die than tell a lie; and above all--Wear clean underwear! No, I never forgot the things Glad taught me. And yes Glad was my mother. Although she's been gone for more than twenty years, now, the legacy she left--her courage and remarkable sense of humor--helped me through many hard times in my own life. And when I often feel that things can't get any worse, I remember what Glad always told me: "When you feel yourself coming to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it." I've tied many knots, cleared many hurdles, and now I'm ready to take on another challenge--writing. And, Mom, thanks for everything. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2000 Marlene McCarty |
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| Glad by Marlene McCarty |
| Glad previously published at Writers Lounge and winner of the Crème de la Crème Award Dec. 2001 |