A Life of Dreams

Below is a photo of my friend Sybil with her mother out for lunch at the Hamlet Gardens...a very lovely day. Now both Sybil's mother and her mothers favorite eatery are gone.


Dr. Sever loved flowers. She had a favorite florist who always knew exactly what Dr. Sever would love.
When friends heard Dr. Severs life was coming to a close they sent beautiful flowers to comfort both Dr. Sever and her daughter...my dear friend of nearly 40 years or more.

On Dr. Severs balcony there were many varieties of flowers, gardenias, bougainvilleas, azaleas, and a Meyer lemon tree to boot. There was even a Christmas cactus that Dr. Sever had managed to keep alive for at least 35 years. This was especially meaningful to me because my sister who passed away many years ago had given it to Sybil as a gift. When Sybil left for New York after college Sybil gave it to her mother to care for. Dr.Sever had a green thumb and she transplanted that Christmas cactus several times and now it is quite large and very healthy and now that Sybil's mother has ascended to the great garden in the sky, the Christmas cactus was sent home with me. I sure hope that cactus loves me as much as it did Dr. Sever.

Dr. Sever and my own mother had many things in common and there love of flowers and plants was at the top of the list.

As Sybil and I and her mother's housekeeper and caregiver packed up Dr.Sever's belongings it became clear that Dr. Sever had dreams of being an elegant hostess. Another passion of Dr. Sever's was her love of cross stitch. The two tablecloths displayed in the photos below are just two of the many, many beautiful things Dr. Sever made. My mother also loved making beautiful things by hand...yet another thing they had in common.

This red, white and blue tablecloth is very much like one my mother gave to me years ago.


This lovely music box is one that Sybil bought for her mother while traveling in Switzerland. Sybil sent it home with me and you will see it displayed on a dressing table that also belonged to Sybil's mother and was also sent home with me.

I know it's going to seem hard to believe, but, the Blue Danube dishes you see in these photos are exactly the same dishes that my own mother served many a meal on while I was growing up...yet one more thing Dr.Sever and my mother loved.
The photo below is of Sybil's mothers sofa covered with costume jewelery that belonged to her mother.
This dressing table looks very much like one my mother had. You would think Dr. Sever and my mother were sisters by the things they both loved. Sybil sent this too home with me because she lives in London and could not take it with her. Sybil, if you are reading this, anytime you move back to the States you can come and claim this lovely dressing table that must have been a joy for your mother to own.

Look at all these glamorous jewels. Dr. Sever never went anywhere where she didn't look her best.



The map below is a map of Paris that hung in Dr. Severs entry way. I have always loved this map, but even more so since Sybil and I had a fabulous trip to Paris in 2008. Sybil sent this home with me too and I will cherish it always.

Dr. Sever had many bookshelves filled to the brim with interesting books. She was an avid reader and surrounded herself with knowledge, art, beauty, good food, all the best things in life.

It's funny how material things can really reveal so much about a person. Those possessions hold secrets about what one holds dear.

My own mother passed away in May three years ago just a couple of days later than Dr. Sever. I imagine these ladies to making everything beautiful and elegant in the Great Beyond, helping to prepare their daughter's mansion in the sky.