My mom IS talented! Made all our own clothes when we were little ones, made special pantsuits when Darcia and I were teenagers and we went to see Bill Cosby at the Centennial Concert Hall!

She did really creative alphabet letters to put across the top of the blackboard when she taught elementary in Inuvik NWT. It was great being a teacher's kid...you got to use COLOURED CHALK on the blackboards.

When she was in her 40s she decided to take some actual art courses. She quit - because she wasn't 'perfect' enough.

At the time, because a special casting cost $350, I said she should sell her design to the cemetery catalog. She didn't - the molds were destroyed. Only lately did it occur to me - these were for Darcia, and Darcia only.

Dear Darcia...