“Don’t look back, you’re not going that way.” My mother frequently shared this bit of wisdom with my siblings and me as she neared the end of her life. The profundity of that statement is not lost on me, especially given that she was in her 90s at the time, with many more years behind her than ahead. She also often said “Life is for the living,” and with that as her mantra, she made the most of her time, every day.
Mom was forever a student, and I doubt she ever experienced a day of boredom. Until she was too ill to do so, she kept up with the latest news and read voraciously. She was a wonderful writer in her own right, quite the chef, adored digging in her garden, and renovated her homes with the same artistry and careful precision she gave every effort. For the last decade of her life, she, my dad, and my eldest sister had an ongoing game of Quiddler, a card game similar to Rummy that swaps words for runs, and the three of them spent countless competitive evenings playing cards while keeping close track of the running score.
I think Mom would have enjoyed reading this month’s article about Mahjong, a new game to me that was all the rage in the U.S. around the time she was born. She may have been intrigued by the modern table games that transfix a younger generation, such as Magic: The Gathering, also highlighted in this issue. I’m sure she would have enjoyed meeting 86-year-old Belen Martinez from the article “Fit for Life” and the other members of Anytime Fitness who like her, made health their priority as they age. A lifelong history buff, Mom would have likely been fascinated by the untold story of Calvert’s
Hammond House and impressed by the many genealogy resources at the Carnegie History Center. And given that my first dog growing up was a dachshund (and all the many pups that followed), I have no doubt that Mom would have been tickled by all the doggie hoopla during Wienerspiel.
Unfortunately, Mom never saw a copy of Insite Brazos Valley Magazine; she passed away a few years before I came on board. But even if I weren’t her daughter and Insite’s editor-in-chief, I am certain that Mom would have loved this magazine and read every issue cover to cover.
You see, I come by my love of all things lifestyle honestly. Mom spent her life as a homemaker. She loved to nest and was happiest making every place we lived in just as lovely as any featured in the magazines we poured over together when I was a child — Woman’s Day, Better Homes & Gardens, and later when I was older, Southern Living and Martha Stewart. During those times, I absorbed her aesthetic style and tastes, which became, to a large degree, very much my own.
I like to think that I share her standards and sensibilities — her love of a good read, her appreciation for quality and beautiful design, her meticulous eye for detail, and a strong and healthy curiosity for the world around us. She was, in fact, my very best editor. I always look forward to sharing those values with you in every issue. And maybe that’s really what she meant when she repeated the phrase, “Don’t look back ...” — to pass it on.
Best,
Ellen Ritscher Sackett,
Editor-in-chief
Comments, questions, or suggestions? I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to me at editor@insitebrazosvalley.com.
