The above photo was taken about nine years ago, when my mother and father were a spry 69 and 71 years old, respectively, and Evelyn was a feisty 9. My mother passed gently into the next world this last Thursday, from complications arising from pancreatic cancer. It has been my good fortune to have had her as my loving mother all my life, and especially to have worked closely with this most extraordinary woman on the farm this last decade.
Mother was a talented and accomplished woman. She was an attorney her professional life--the second woman ever to be admitted to the Centre county bar-- and enjoyed the respect and admiration of her colleagues and the community. Her professional and civic achievements were numerous, too numerous to list here. She served as a role model and mentor for younger women entering the profession in Centre County and did much pro bono work for the Womens' Resource Center, giving legal support to women escaping from abusive relationships. Yet she always had time for her family, giving abundant love and attention to her three children, eight grandchildren, her husband (they were married 57 years!), nieces and nephews, children-in- law, parents, aunts and uncles, as well as her friends, both personal and professional.
After she retired from the legal profession, she enjoyed a second career working with us on and off the farm. She sold vegetables along side myself and Simon at farmers' markets and packed CSA shares with Evelyn. In her younger days she and I would pick beans together, which she loved. Even when she was too weak to help pack shares, she insisted on coming to the farm twice a week to write names on all the labels, so that it would be easier for you to find which share was yours.
Most of all what I miss about mom is her good cheer and optimism. She always saw the sunny side of things and everything she did was with enthusiasm and hope. Never once did I witness her indulge in self pity or feel sorry for herself. Although she has given me many wise words of council over these 49 years of my life, more than anything, it was how she lived life which has taught me the most.
Grief is a funny thing. For now, I'm very grateful to have my work and will continue to do my best to serve the public through wholesome and delicious food. Tending to the crops is very therapeutic. However, I do confess I'm finding it hard to focus on the many details necessary for raising 30- odd different crops successfully, so I ask your indulgence if I'm a bit erratic over the second half of the season. That being said, please still feel free to contact me with any concerns or requests. The world goes on and I'm still very much a part of it. And mom never could stand it when people would spend their time "moping and doping about", as she would put it as only she could. So I'll carry on. But if you think it fitting, do raise a glass-- or a fork full of vegetables-- to the memory of Virginia Eisenstein, who did so much for this farm, and everything else she touched.
