Can you imagine having a friend who visited your sister for 8 solid years in a nursing home, every Monday, come rain or shine? Marjorie's own sister, Janet, became ill with a mysterious disease, and Marjorie, true to form, never left her side even for a day. I wondered... What could I possibly do to show I care? I asked myself, what do two sisters need in such crises? The answer was... their mother...
Knowing what a "Lancashire lass" I am at heart; knowing I come from a family of Wigan coal miners, some years ago Marjorie gave me an old, blurred photo of her Mum "Maggie" (middle), a pit-brow lass of the Wigan coalfield way back when. She said if I ever wanted to paint a pit-brow lass, would I consider painting Maggie? I painted this for her while I was in Wigan, in September. I thought Marjorie would faint when I gave it to her! All she could say was "Oh Lesley!" She then hauled it around as if it were a wallet photo for the next few days. I heard Maggie even went to Bingo and met Marjorie's friends there! I LOVED doing this painting. I LOVE Marjorie (and Sam); cherished, beautiful people in my family's life from way back when. A good use for Art!