She Was One of Us

She was one of us.
You know: one of us Happy Healthy Saltaire youngsters the Village was guaranteed to grow.

Mary Buchler, 1946-2012.

BABY BOOMER:

We knew her as "Mimi" way back when.
So much like all of us, Mimi was.  Growing up surrounded by family and friends. The future was said to be  unlimited in those Baby Boom years. Especially for Saltaire kids.

CARRIER OF THE McMANUS GENE FOR LOVE OF SAILING:

A skinny kid learning the ropes.
I imagine this: (poetic license here) :

Sitting at the Club:

"Here's a clove hitch
That's a  bowline.
Use a reef knot to reef a sail
and a figure 8 on a cleat, but not for the main sail or you will end up swimming home.
 Got  that, kids? 
OK. lets get out on the Bay."

A QUIET GIRL:

Here's a picture of Mimi in the  1960's.  A  detail from a family portrait by Dana Wallace:

                                                              click image to enlarge
Dignified?
Reserved?
Shy?
Do  we see a smile at the edge of sadness?
A family member wonders if it is just the image of a teenage girl awkward to smile  with braces.
It was hard to tell with Mimi. I didn't know her  well.
-Did anyone?

A POPULAR GIRL:

Laurie Lyon and Leigh Johnson wanted Mimi on their "Saltaire's Girl Softball Team"  in 1964.
Here's the roster:

click image to enlarge

I don't know if they found a team to play  against in the Summer of '64.

-Does anyone remember?

Who could we ask?

They could not field this  team this summer.

-Don't ask.

BEATLEMANIC:

She chased the Fab Four around New York with a million other kids.

I don't know if she went to Shea in 1965.

Does anyone remember?

-Who could we ask?

ALWAYS THE ARTIST:

They tell me that if she loved anything more than  sailing, it was drawing: designing; making decorative items. To me that means: Observant. Sensitive. Lots of thought behind those beautiful Irish eyes.

ALWAYS THE SAILOR:

But always the sailor, Mimi was. And is.

And those sailing races on the Bay-
Everyone remembers those afternoons.

Mimi used to sail with Jeannie.

Where are they now?

I bet you can find their names  somewhere on one of those ignored  tarnished old trophies on the fireplace at the Yacht Club.

Would somebody take a look? I don't go there much anymore.

-Who would look?

SHE WAS ONE OF US:

Mimi was right there with us soaking up that Saltaire Summer Sun.

"The sun that is young once only," as Dylan Thomas said.

I never knew her when the sun was old.

-Did anyone?

  

REST IN PEACE

Rest in Peace, Mimi.

No- let's use the name that she likes best:

Rest in Peace, MARY BUCHLER

Rest in Peace.

-JO'H