It is Deb Schoch here.  I saw your wonderful posting on my Mom's book of Memories page.  Unfortunately I am not able to reply to your posting, nor do I have access to your e-mail so I am hoping that you will see this posting and we can exchange contact information.  My e-mail account is debschoch.ct@gmail.com.  Fingers crossed that we will be able to connect!!  Best, Deb

I met Nancy in the 80s when her daughter Deborah invited me to join her in a visit to her parent’s home.  I fell in love with her the instant I met her in her kitchen in Connecticut.  She was baking Jenifer House Molasses cookies, and they were the best molasses cookies I had ever had.  I asked for the recipe, and it has become a “go to” dessert ever since.  Now, when I open my cook book and see that recipe in her handwriting; I smile thinking about this funny, sweet, beautiful woman I was lucky to have known.

We were chatting about dating and marriage one night, and I asked Nancy how she and Don had met.  She said she knew him; he was good looking and seemed very nice.  He asked her out, and she agreed.  But the day of the date the worry set in. What if they didn’t have a lot to talk about?  What if they didn’t have much in common? What if he wasn’t as nice as she thought? What if he was an ax murderer?  Well, that was it.  She couldn’t break the date, and he had her address.  There was only one thing to do.  She went down to her mailbox and taped the name “Stewart” on the box, figuring he would drive by thinking he had the wrong place.   Don said he never saw it; they went on their date and had a very nice time; and the rest is history. From that story on - she was Nancy Stewart to me! 

When Nancy had her aneurysm, I went to visit her in the hospital with Deb.  The door was open, and there was this beautiful woman, with a pixie haircut and a pretty pink velour track suit sitting on the bed smiling.  I couldn’t believe it- she was luminous!  Her positive attitude and sense of humor were still intact.  What could have been a very somber visit became a giggle fit.  I never forgot that:  Whenever I have been hospitalized, I’ve made sure to wear a beautiful robe, put on makeup and a smile. It has put my friends at ease, and given me a positive attitude about getting better.

Being around Nancy was a guarantee there would be laughter.  The world was brighter when she smiled.

Before she had her stroke my mother hated taking left hand turns while she was driving.  Often when I asked to go to a certain store she would sigh and say "Oh, that means we have to take a left hand turn.  I need to think about it."  To avoid this delima we would often drive miles out of our way to reach the destination from the right.

My mother loved food.  She loved to cook it, eat it and eat more of it.  When my mother would stay with Scott and I in Philadelphia I would often open a cupboard that looked like a little mouse had paid a visit.  That little mouse was my mother.

You did not know my mother if you did not realize her love of Turner Classic Movies.  My mother taught me the love of old movies and she was delighted when the man I married, 18 years ago shared her passion.  Scott and I never had a visit that did not involve playing a game of "name that actor, name that director, name that movie."  

My mother taught me the love and apprceciation of so many things that I would need an endless book to fill it. From my mother I take my love of old English history, my love of old movies, my love of collecting, my love of reading, my love of cooking, my love creating a "small moment" in my house, my love of nature's small gifts, and most importantly my ability to have compassion and forgiveness for other people

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