Bonnie Bush McNamara with granddaughter Meg.
My New Year’s resolution is to remember my “life mentors” by passing on their teachings to others through my actions and words.
Three days after this past Thanksgiving, our family said “See you later” to one of our greatest life mentors, my mother-in-law and next-door neighbor, Bonnie Bush McNamara. On Nov. 30, Bonnie lost her brave battle with ovarian cancer.
Our Bonnie loved loving us. Truly a second Mom to me and our three children — Mickey, Jamie and Meg — Bonnie taught us how to live … And then she taught us how to die.
It’s our turn now.
Bonnie was like a second Mom to Meg and her siblings Mickey and Jamie.
It’s our time to pass on the many life lessons she unselfishly shared with us and so many others — and not just through words.
All of us have life mentors, at work and at home. Some are still with us, while others live on in spirit through us.
As we usher in 2015, let’s try to remember our life mentors. Each day, let’s do or say something they taught us. Let’s keep school in session, for ourselves and others.
Our 17-year-old, Meg, wrote the following poem about her relationship with Bonnie. A far more gifted writer than I, Meg is a rare fish — both my life (and writing) mentee and mentor.
You can reach Marty Whitford at mwhitford@northcoastmedia.net.
That Particular Fish
There once was a small fish
That lived in a Tank
With many other fish.
But one Particular Fish
She loved with all her heart —
Because That Particular Fish
Gave her everything she needed.
That Particular Fish swam with her,
And talked with her,
And showed her all the most beautiful places in the Tank.
And the small fish loved That Particular Fish.
One day the small fish overheard a Man say:
“I am going to take That Particular Fish,
And set it free.
Into the Ocean.
Where its love and knowledge will be limitless.
Where it will be embraced.
And That Particular Fish will see things no fish in the Tank
Could ever imagine or understand.
And That Particular Fish will be happy.”
And so the small fish cried —
Because she wasn’t ready for That Particular Fish to leave her,
To leave the Tank.
And That Particular Fish cried, too —
Because she loved the small fish.
She loved the Tank.
And so the small fish
And That Particular Fish swam together
And found a way to trust that what the Man said is true:
That That Particular Fish will be happy.
And, then, so will be the small fish.
And the small fish will go on
And swim with an even smaller fish.
And talk with her.
And show her all the most beautiful places in the Tank.
And That Particular Fish will be where love and knowledge are limitless.
Where she will be embraced.
Where she will see things no fish in the Tank could imagine or understand.
And the small fish
And That Particular Fish
Will Never Ever stop Loving each other.
— Meg Whitford
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