Tribute to Lucille Carr Seifert

Things my mother, Lucille, taught my sisters and me
By Carolyn Seifert Lohn

1. Do a little dance. Lucille taught us girls a love of big band and western swing, especially Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. She and the aunts kicked up their heels in the dance halls quite a bit back in the day.
2. Have a sense of humor. Lucille is always cracking jokes and telling stories, and we’re always listening. Just a tip though, don’t pull her finger.
3. Be self-reliant. Hard work never killed anybody, and everybody is supposed to work. And she did, every day.
4. Always buy the freshest ingredients; better yet, grow your own. Fresh corn and tomatoes make a meal fit for a king, especially if the fresh vegetables are grown with care in Lucille’s garden.
5. The simple things in life are the best. I remember when we’d all sit outside on the porch in the summer and she and the aunts would take turns telling ghost stories. No blockbuster movie or stage production could ever compare.
6. Love your spouse. Be a good wife, because marriage is for a lifetime. She always took care of Daddy, especially when his health began to fail him.
7. Try something new. A little adventure is good for the soul, especially from the back of a motorcycle.
8. Always be fair and equal. When we were girls, everyone got an equal share of everything—the good and the bad—especially housework.
9. Be creative. I remember the Easter dresses that she would make for us girls. We each had our own color, with matching Easter bonnets and gloves that she would sew for us.
10. Family is important. Even though Uncle Paul is no longer with us. Lucille and all the aunts celebrate his memory every day.