Sunday, January 28, 2007

Sue Mancey: ‘Mensa Member’

Ester gave me so much joy, love and support and those days were some of the most truly uplifting of my spiritual life. I will neither forget them nor cease to cherish them. The joy and energy created were a jewel beyond price—like the good woman. I have always considered her beautiful in every way and filled with an infinite capacity to care for others and hold them close. She embodied for me the hope for Jewish life.

I was always drawn to Ester’s face with its animation and the wise eyes of my little ‘Mensa Member’. Her presence was always evident if she was in the same room, but never overpowering. She was always comfortable with others, age mattered not. I loved her sitting on my lap, facing me, at Loma and Steve’s wedding, holding my hair as she painted my face with my lipstick. She was telling me how I always looked better with make-up, it was hard to keep a straight face, looking into those happy eyes, sweet little hands at each side of my face, she was so huggable. Eating the burned Angel food was magic when I came to lunch, even if we had to force it from the dish.

When Mensa Member was a little older, I was taken to see the elderly hamster, who wet his bed as a matter of routine, Ester seemed to like him more for it. Her sweet goldfish swam harmoniously at her bedside, flashing gilded fins. I loved her company, her delightful stories, her eyes shining in the soft light of her bedside lamp, her firm warm hands.

She loved blue loo flushes on planes, my cats with their long names, holding hands, the world, her Jewishness and more than anything you, Angela, and all that you gave to her. After the excitement of building the succah, she would squeeze in beside us all and list the fruit that hung overhead. When she got up to go, she left a warm place on the seat and in your heart.

If she stayed with us or came away with me for the day, I always returned her stained or untidy. Sitting straight in her buggy on Brighton beach, she was so sweet. Later resting against me on the train she fell deeply asleep, but woke completely refilled with energy so very quickly and seemed so pleased with the day that she revived me too.

Standing beside Sylvia at Janice and Adam’s wedding, she felt moved to remark, “You’re wearing pearls. I never feel dressed without my pearls!” In truth, she was the pearl and she drew us all to her beauty. Thank you for sharing her with us. I will think of her forever with love.