Margot passed away on June 29th after a short battle with cancer. I found out two days afterward when her amazing daughters Mary Leigh and Katherine came to tell me at the jewelry shop I work at. (Margot loved jewelry.)I could tell you facts about her life. Like that she was the 12th of 13 children and that Margot had a PhD. But I want to share about the Margot I knew for the past 6 years.
I met Margot and Mary Leigh while I worked for Starbucks. They were daily customers and I still know how to make their Chai Tea Lattes to this day. Margot was always in a cute jump suit in the mornings and Mary Leigh was usually dressed for work. Margot knew each one of us on the morning crew by name and always remembered us at Christmas and on our birthdays. As a barista, it was striking how quickly they came to know me and ask the same questions I asked of my customers everyday.
Margot and Mary Leigh found out I also worked in jewelery and became some of my best customers along with Katherine. They wouldn't just come in to buy something. If they were in the area they would just stop in to say hello. Often times, Margot would come by with great thrift store and consignment buys she thought I would love.
Not only were Margot and the Harvey girls customers they became friends.
Life got tough two years ago when Margot lost her husband Don. He was the love of her life and she the love of his.She never fully recovered from losing him.
But after winter there is spring and Margot got so excited when Mary Leigh got engaged in 2009. I love remembering us being all together to celebrate this time. Margot had so much fun at Mary Leigh's shower which was a Tupperware Party hosted by a drag queen named Kay Sedia. And she looked so radiant as the mother of the bride in January of 2010 at Mary Leigh's wedding in San Diego.
What made Margot so special is that she treated everyone with kindness and like a worth while human being. She always spoke to people, not matter what their lot in life, with respect and dignity. It's part of what made her an amazing lawyer, but what truly made her a person people wanted to know and be around.
I got the chance to sit with Mary Leigh and Katherine and a few of the other Harvey friends a few nights after Margot passed. It was so amazing to see old photos and listen to old stories and learn about parts of Margot I didn't know.
I had seen Margot last in February and she looked amazing. She looked the best I had seen her in a while. She was full of energy and joy. Mary Leigh and Katherine told me in the week before she died, she told them that she had to come see me. Sadly, I didn't get that visit.
I keep her photo in my room and I say hello to her and talk to her a bit during the day. I know she's not in the photo, but I know she's around.
This isn't by any means my most eloquent post, but it is something I wanted and needed to share.
I write about Margot here in the space for the Returning Dignity Project because that's what Margot embodied. It's the legacy that her and her late husband Don, raised their girls to live. It's a legacy that everyone who knew her has been touched by.
I miss Margot so much, but her actions and attitude continue to inspire me and to inspire this project.
Rest in peace Margot and I pray you and Don are together loving each other fiercely.
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