Came through the womb of Elizabeth
Born 16th March 1892, Alive for 82 years
I have no memories of Great Nana Ruby, I had only one precious year of us both being alive together. As I delve into my matriarchal line I garner impressions of her through black and white photos, and spoken memories from my mother and her sister Karen.
Photo of Lisa on Ruby's knee
May2021 I decided to go visit where her bones are at rest, such a beautiful old resting ground in Napier. I knelt and chatted with her whilst tenderly cleaning off the lichen from her plaque,
tidying up the happily growing succulents, and re-seating the gorgeous little miniature lyre playing Angel (Ruby loved music). And then I sat, leant back against her head stone, breathed in the crisp air from all the old trees surrounding us, the moist earth rich with many resting bones beneath us and made her a little ancient womb woman, a small token of love and honouring.
Ruby’s link in this lineage chain ensured 5 more generations could come into being, her daughter Beth, granddaughter Sherryll, great granddaughter Lisa, great great granddaughter Rachel, and her great great great granddaughter Sophie. I would not be here without her, and for that simple fact I am deeply and tender-fully grateful.
Today mum told me that Ruby loved her violets, so I popped to the garden centre to find
some, all that could be found were some small wild self-sown seedlings that had come up in other pot plants. The garden centre woman tenderly and generously transplanted them into their own little pot and gifted them to me. So special, she too remembered her own grandmother loving these little dear ones. They are now sitting out in the sun with a little womb woman to watch over them as they grow in strength and beauty.
A little life snippet from the voices of Karen and Sherryll (2 of Ruby's granddaughters) ...
Ruby was the sister of 11 siblings, mother of 6 children - the epitome of a fragrant miniature rose - tiny, always smelled wonderful, always had a radiant smile and never a stern word. She loved spoiling her grandchildren with lollies "Want a lolly? Go upstairs and kiss your dolly" she would say with a cheeky chuckle and a sly grin, then slip sweets into tiny eager palms. She would sneak off for a flutter on the horses with the equally eager friend from across the road, the family chuckling as they spotted her through the lounge window sneaking in the car. Ruby loved sing-alongs and was a wonderful entertainer on the piano, even with two crooked little fingers, she could make those keys dance to any tune - ‘Little Sir Echo’ and "Rustle of Spring" are pieces forever in our hearts.
Ruby (bottom row, second in from left) her mother Elizabeth next to her (third from left)
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