The Mend and Fix Mentality

When Meme was alive she was an example of prudence, persistence and patience. A child’s eyes focuses on the little things and only when their vision has matured can they see the whole story. I remember being amazed and amused at how she would save everything. When I would come home with a bag of groceries I would stand back and watch her find room in our lives for everything in that bag. She would take out the meat wrapped in butcher paper and carefully snip the string, winding it on to a spool she had saved.

‘Every little bit adds up” she would say proudly.

The brown paper bag would be smoothed over, folded neatly and packed away in a drawer.

“Why buy things twice,” she would say with a twinkle in her eye.

When clothes were worn meme would mend them. When sweaters were down to rags, she would snip the buttons for future use. I never saw her waste food. All leftovers would find their way into some creative concoction. There was never much money around but Meme would always have a little stashed away for “worthy causes.” Those were the days of sending shoes to the cobblers, patching sweaters and jeans and mending broken cups. If Meme was not the exception she was certainly a fine example of the mend and fix mentality.

Our large family and circle of friends were subject to the same meticulous care she applied to the paper bags. With the inevitable blow ups and disagreements that plague any family, Meme would set about to mend and repair. Relationships were not abandoned when they became burdensome or uncomfortable. A fine balance between accepting people for who they were and maintaining ones own respect and individuality was her talent. She wouldn’t throw away a relationship any more than she would throw away a broken dish. It was a mentality I always admired.

We grew up and retained the same friends and family ties that we had as children. The continuity made us rich. Life is somewhat different now. There is a throw away, disposable syndrome that can infiltrate into our personal lives if we are not careful. It is a mobile, convenience oriented time we live in. You can always disregard old relationships when they disappoint you. New friends are around every corner. What deception. I learned well from my Meme to hold onto old friendships, value the past and not to ever let go of the mend and fix mentality.