Recently I saw the new Star Trek XI movie and as I was watching it I couldn't help thinking of my sister Mary. She was the one who got me interested in Star Trek which evolved into my love for science fiction. She would have really loved this movie as it went back to the times when Kirk and Spock were cadets in Star Fleet Academy.
When someone we love dies, things often unexpectedly jog our memory of them like this movie did for me. And of course one thought leads to another and before we realize it, we realize the legacy that the person has left behind. Other wonderful memories of her include the times she gave my toddler daughter chocolate because it made her "crazy." She thought it was really funny until the night she ended up keeping her all night for us and she had fed her Reese Peanut Butter Cups. I never had to worry if my hairstyle was up to date, she was the best hair dresser (designer) ever. She cooked all day on Sundays so that her family would have food to eat when she worked late. Her macaroni salad was better than a 5-star restaurants. She hated to lose when we played games and would cheat if she had to in order to win, passing cards under the table to me with her toes. She gave me my first and only pedicure when I was 9 months pregnant, supposedly I couldn't touch my toes. I remember 2 elderly ladies who were blind that were her customers. She would pick them up from their homes and bring back to her beauty shop to fix their hair. It was an all day outing for them. She became involved in the Cancer Center's program "Look Good, Feel Better" in it's early days and before volunteering became posh. She was great at everything she did including being a sister, a friend, a daughter, a wife and a mother.
So what kind of legacy memories are we leaving for others to remember us by? I hope the ones I leave behind are as memorable, interesting and funny as Mary left for us.
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