Remembering Blanche

DearREADERS,
All sorts of memories welled up over Mothers Day last month. Some too precious to write about. She would have been 99 years old this coming November 5th, having been born in 1926.  This circa 1980 portrait typifies how I recall Blanche’s sparkling eyes and bright smile. I have to remember to call her great-grandma because to our generation’s grandchildren, that is who Blanche is, from their view of our family tree.

Who Blanche is to my generation is hard to explain, for it was from our beloved step-mother Blanche I learned that a graceful, loving, gentle lady can command respect as a businesswoman. She deftly managed the business side of our father’s office, making wise investments that endure to this day. Dad often said Blanche’s innate business acumen freed him up to practice medicine without worrying about the running of his office.

With Blanchey Babe (as Dad called her) life wasn’t just about dollars and sense (pun intended). It was all about grace under fire. Living with Dad was certainly no picnic as he could be very stern all too frequently.

Blanche was a private person. Fewer words could prove her point. Years ago, she asked me to create a calligraphic rendition of these telling words:

This small, framed saying hung on the wall just outside the entrance to the “spa” as Blanche and Dad called the hot tub with an entrance in their bedroom. There were also neatly concealed doors in the spa that opened to the north lawn for egress to the “Fujiyama” as we called their real Japanese tea house.

Here are some “Blanche” pictures from our “Family CD #1:

ABOVE: On the front porch of the A-frame at Deer Harbor, Washington (on Orcas Island)  circa 1983.

ABOVE: This is the year they went fishing out of Westport. She was the only one catching anything for much of the trip. It ended up she landed the biggest catch!

ABOVE: Blanche and Dad on the south lawn of their home in Medina, Washington, circa 2004.

ABOVE: This was one of the last pictures taken of Blanche and Dad, celebrating Dad’s birthday in September 2006. The photos of Blanche on her last birthday are too personal to share here. See her smile shining through, though she could barely hold her head up as she sat in the wheelchair? Pretty lady.

BELOW: Blanche hand ties a baby quilt for Ashley’s second child, Camden.

BELOW: This is the picture framed and given to each of the Blanche’s children at the family gathering after the memorial service. Blanche Myrtle (Jackson) Bennett Player and her second husband, my dad, Glen. S. Player, M. D. 

Sometimes I can still hear Blanche’s voice singing the high soprano part when our church choir sings on special occasions. On crazy days, I can definitely hear her say “I’ve got to get organized!” I think I heard her say that about a hundred times as we prepared for another big family reunion up on Orcas Island.

PS – Years ago when I first sat typing this tribute, I received a text message from my middle daughter Stacey saying “Is it Blanche’s birthday? For some reason I’ve been thinking about her all day.” Me too, sweetheart, me too.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt     🙂
DearMYRTLE,
Your (not so) retired friend in genealogy.