What can I possibly tell you about the incredible force of nature that was my mother-in-law John Roland – the mother of my heart.

I fell under her spell upon our first meeting, Gavin and I we’re simply friends then, stopping by his mother’s house to pick something up from the basement.

Upon leaving my immediate comments to him were, “Wow! Your mother is spectacular! What is her accent? And if you ever get married, you should do it in her backyard!”

His responses were, in order:

“I know.”

“She doesn’t have an accent.”

…and,

“I’ll never get married.”

Eventually, Gavin and I became more than friends and she proved herself to be very brilliant and prescient woman that she was when she got down on one knee and proposed to me a full year before her baby boy did.

She was an amazing artist, a trailblazer, a truth seeker and a fearless warrior.

She did not suffer fools lightly yet one was determined to debate her one would be advised to come competently armed otherwise it would be like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight.

But if you came prepared, you could expect to be respected, applauded, and made to feel like you were absolutely brilliant.

And if she loved you, well you had it made!

She would forgive you any transgression, no matter how foolish and fob it off as simply a moment of temporary insanity. And woe to anyone foolhardy enough to mess with you!

She loved fiercely, unconditionally and without limits.

I honestly believe that I am one of the luckiest people alive as I’m not someone who can claim any dissatisfaction with my in-laws as I married into the greatest family in the universe, and she is responsible for giving me all of them.

I feel so blessed to love and be loved by Joan, Rod, Jane, Gerry, Charlotte, and Jack.

And of course, by the forever and always love of my life, Gavin who like his beloved Mom, fills my days with endless love, laughter, brilliance and adventure.

My own mother and I were extraordinarily close, but one day in conversation I informed her that I really hope that I wouldn’t hurt her feelings, but I had decided that when I grow up, I wanted to be exactly like Joan.

My mother’s response was, she wasn’t upset at all! And that she couldn’t blame me, because when she grew up, she wanted to be exactly like Joan too!

I love you my darling list other Mommy always and forever.