MOM'S ACCIDENTAL MEETING WITH VIOLETS

Nancy Robitaille from Montreal

My mom--everybody called her Fran, was driving from my home in Montreal to her own home in Anchorage, Alaska--a mere 3000 miles across Canada. (No small feat for a woman alone.)

She had just purchased a new car right off the Detroit lines to save money. As she drove through the wheat belt of Canada, she felt sympathy for the hard working farmer. It was a beautiful blue sky that winter but the weather was fine. Then she felt danger and became panic stricken. Her leg was paralyzed--a reoccurence of arthritis. She was unabled to stop the car. She succeeded in lifting her right leg off the gas with her hand then slowly she dragged it to the brake. Unfortunately, it was too late.

She was found and helped to a very small town hospital somewhere in Saskatchewan. After receiving medical treatment, the doctor told her she must stay off her legs for at least three weeks and that there was no place in the small hospital for her to stay, nor was there any kind of hotel. One of the volunteer Nurses' Aides told the doctor she would gladly take Mom for the time she needed to recuperate. She saw to her car repairs, then packed Mom off into her own car.

On arrival at the volunteer's house, the kind woman placed several of her bags beside the well lit room just off the garage. She then took Mom's arm and gently helped her to the refuge. Mom half-hobbled over to the door leaning heavily on the helper. The door was opened and Mom gasped! She almost fell down. 'If there had not been a chair a foot away, I would have fallen.' The room was indescribably beautiful. African violets of every hue met her senses and completely took her breath away. The plants, beloved by the owner, were superb! It was like the climax of a giant symphony joined by a hundred-voiced choir! Her statement, 'They're beautiful!' seemed inadequate.

'We will certainly have time to admire my violets. But now you must rest,' was the kind reply.

During the 'rest period,' Mom had enough time to see the gentle woman at work with her violets. Questions and answers, watching the 'surgeon' cut the rootball, scrape the neck, cut off suckers, pin down the stems, and measure her magic liquids. That was the agenda for Mom's unexpected vacation.

So, time passed, remedies were taken and healing was on the way. Mom said goodbye to her generous benefactor. But she left with a fever. I'm sure you know what kind I mean!

Because of the kindness and generosity of the good Samaritan, Mom accidentally met a most delightful hobby. Until she died, just recently, she had three rooms filled with countless plants of all sizes, planted leaves, babies, plantlets, medium and extra-large specimens. With this facinating hobby she also managed to sell enough to pay for new hybrids. And naturally she introduced the hobby to her twin daughters in Anchorage and to me.

On one of her visits she told me, 'For your birthday I'm taking you to Syracuse to the National AV Convention.' I wasn't overjoyed, but I did need a vacation from my 6 little ones.

We attended all the clinics, banquets, tours, etc., offered, including the visit to Lyndon Lyon's Greenhouses where I bought one little mini, THUMBLES. Members got off and onto the elevator with boxes and more boxes of plants. There I stood with one solitary miniature.

At the Canadian hosted banquet, I received PYGMY CHIEF (hybridized by Pat Tracey) as a party favour. My collection was expanding. Then came the exposition. When the doors were finally opened for our inspection, who wouldn't be impressed by the irridescent pinks, the hundreds of minis, the long tables loaded with every color, every size and hue imaginable? I was stricken by the plants from Violet's Care From Cookie (Sisk, I believe). It was impossible to choose a favorite from her gorgeous variegates.

What pride when Mom told me ACA'S Violet-Tree from Canada had won first prize for commercial table and Betty Tapping from Toronto had won so many prizes. The fever spread. It was definitely the exposition filled with God's gift to mankind that sent my temperature rising.

Many years have lapsed since those days of Convention going. Mom grew older and just couldn't make it anymore. We both kept up our hobbies, however. I passed the judge's test and soon was able to judge shows with my mother.

Mom died last year and I have been forever thankful for all she taught me, including the love of plants. One of my sons has shown great interest in plants but not necessarily African violets although he does have some which I have to operate on occasionally.

The hobby of collecting African violets can creep up on a person quite unaware of the danger until she/he envelopes the hobby into his/her life. It's perhaps not life-consuming, but it certainly gives great pleasure to life caring for these beautiful little plants.

See Nancy's Interview     See the French Horn Piper