My granny is darning the sky. Born in 1890 she endured hardship and bereavement as a girl. But through her determination, she became one of the UK's first women doctors. She and my grandfather treated soldiers returning from the first world war, and they helped many people survive the second. She would say to me, 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.' It was a philosophy born from hard times. When I complained about minor unfairnesses, she would say, 'Well, life ISN'T fair, dear.' At the time, I didn't realise how she spoke from a deeper experience of real injustice. But she didn't give in to it: she fought it with activism, fortitude and perseverance. She could mend things and make everything better. She would darn the sky rather than let it fall. |