July of 2008 I was golfing with my Dad when the phone rang. We do not usually answer the phone on the course but it was a call from my Mom. Dad took the call and then immediately dropped the phone because Mom announced that she had leukemia, which was her fourth cancer battle.
The doctors were not optimistic and she slowed down dramatically. In June of 2009 she was told that she would not make it to Christmas. She said, ”No that’s wrong, I have to curl in the City of Ottawa playdowns one more time. Thanksgiving came and went and Mom was strong and curling well. We celebrated Christmas in November just in case, but her spirit was strong because of her ”family” at the RA daytime women’s league..
Playdowns started in late February and Mom’s team was still going strong. They made it to the finals in their division and were playing for the trophy at the Ottawa Hunt. The script could not have been better. Tied going home with. The shot was called, made and the win was a sure thing. Since Mom was between transfusions she had very little energy so she began her way to the lounge before the rock even came to rest, after all she wanted a cold beer. The other team was a bit upset that Mom left the ice that way but when they were informed about her health they were quite impressed.
Curling kept my Mom alive because of the comraderie within her team, and the club (RA Ottawa). For our family it was important because we had three generations actively playing and she wanted to see her grandchildren continue to embrace the game. Curling is timeless and a great metaphor for life. You are only truly living when you are playing or doing what you love with the people that you care about. Curling was my Mom’s true sporting love.
She passed away July of 2010. When it came time to cover the urn with earth, my Dad took out her brush and the grandchildren swept the earth into the hole while Dad was hollering to ”sweep hard” and ”hardline”. The priest was suitably convinced to try curling.
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