Sandy was my mentor, my wise woman, a patron of my art and one of my closest friends. We met when I was an English student at U of C and she agreed to supervise my honour’s project. She and Ken came to my wedding. Sandy read at the service in that beautiful voice with the Scottish lilt (I always loved how she said the word “poetry”). In subsequent years, my husband Michael and I often had the joy of looking after the Bragg Creek house, complete with hounds and horses. It came to feel like our own vacation home. Sandy and Ken were so generous to a young couple just getting started.
My friend Sandy was a keen listener, a deep thinker and her advice was always sound. Whether it was the classroom drama of my teaching career or my latest creative venture, she was always attentive and supportive. Over the years, my paintings came to hang on several of her walls. I was honoured to receive commissions to paint the West family and later, Ken on his horse. I think Sandy believed in me as an artist ever before I believed it myself.
I am deeply grateful that I was able to spend time with Sandy early in September. Ever the consummate hostess, she invited me to lunch and we dined on the kitchen patio. I now have the recipe for cilantro rice that I will treasure as one of her last gifts. We spoke about Art and books and children and dogs. About friendship and the passage of time. I know she missed Ken very much and that she clung fiercely to her independence in her home. In a way, I am glad that her final days were there, in the place she loved best.
Aaron and Graeme, I mourn with you and your families. I hope we have the chance to celebrate her life and spirit together one day soon.
