2012. Mark and I in Maui, celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary early. Still one of my favourite pictures of us.
This piece is from a Memoir Writing class that I participated in last fall, 2019.
Thankfully,
the nickname, “The Little Woman” became “Miss Lynda” at some point. It was a name that, in my presence, my late
husband Mark used most. Miss Lynda had
a tenderness to it with an underlying respect.
After his death, I discovered that amongst his close friends he used,
“Leader of the Opposition”. Though this
makes me laugh out loud, the one that sustains me is, “Erin.”
As
I passionately reacted, Mark might say ranted, about an injustice in the world,
he would respond with, “Yes, Erin”. Being named after Erin Brockovich, the main
character in the 2000 movie of the same name, is the highest honour.
Though
I look nothing like her and dress on the conservative end of the spectrum, we
share some common attributes. For
example, we are each motivated to seek justice.
While Erin’s focus is on the environment, mine is on restorative justice.
In
the movie, based on Erin’s real-life experience, she discovers that when large
corporations fail to do the right thing, humans can be impacted in devastating
ways. Critical illness and death are the
result of reckless actions.
In my real-life movie, I discover that when
large corporations fail to do the right thing, layers can be added to the trauma
that occurs following the unexpected death of loved one. Added emotional pain is the result of the
negligent use of words in a Press Release*.
Erin
is confident. She trusts her instincts.
I am less confident but followed my intuition which led to discovery of
truth. My instincts proved to be correct.
“This shouldn’t happen to another family” urges me forward. I see this
same unspoken motivation in Erin. A deep internal drive that leads to perseverance
while seeking truth.
Erin
has the courage to use her voice; she continues to advocate even today. A
framed card in the location where I write, reminds me to ‘find my voice’ and
‘speak truth into hard spots’. This, I am
still learning.
Erin’s
research results mainly in monetary compensation for families impacted by a
large corporation. My research results in truth. Truth is my compensation.
Though
it is approaching five years since I last heard Mark call me, “Erin,” it is
written on my soul. I follow the real Erin Brockovich on Facebook, and when I
need encouragement to keep going, I watch media clips. Who knew that Mark’s perception and one
nickname would give me the confidence and doggedness to pursue truth about the
investigation of his death.
“Erin” has shaped me and is still impacting me today.
Who has positively contributed to helping you become?
(*a Press Release correcting Mark's location was posted to the Langley RCMP Newsroom on February 24, 2020)
Beautifully, truthfully written...As always, thank you for sharing...Hugs,
ReplyDeleteThank you Jacqueline 💜 you are one of my teachers.
DeleteMy husband has helped and enabled me to become a better version of me.
ReplyDeleteWe sold our house, our cabin, and moved into a 5th wheel while we built our current home for 603 days. I learned we can live with much less than we think and that I actually needed a place to call home- we made it though and it was tough- I lost my Mom moths later- ad my brother was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer just days later (he was single and needed the support of my sisters and myself) My brother lived a year beyond what they gave him and though he was a difficult human he taught me more than I could ever share here- and directed me back to church.
So he helped me become. Whole.
Tracy, the more I know of your story, the more I wished I lived closer... I would volunteer at your shop! Thank you for sharing how devastation has shaped you. It sounds like you've become better, "whole". That was/is one of my goals - to become better not bitter. I always have a choice. Spiritually, I have wrestled, raged etc. I have come to believe in a Spirit of Love and Truth, whom I know as God, that goes beyond all of the trauma, rage, and despair. Not a 'nice church lady' kind of thing... I still wrestle. But I look for that love and truth in the people that surround me and new people I meet... like you.
ReplyDelete