meliorate
1552, “to make better,” from L.L. melioratus, pp. of L. meliorare “improve,” from melior “better,” used as comp. of bonus “good,” but probably originally meaning “stronger,” from PIE base *mel- “strong, great, numerous” (cf. Gk. mala “very much, very,” L. multus “much”).
meliorate. (n.d.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 07, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/meliorate
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when i woke up just before that magic hour of 3 a.m., unable to sleep any longer for worrying and stewing about what this one needs and what that one wants, i knew it was time to mend grandmother’s quilt. the one she made for me. the one that has my name embroidered in small green letters in one corner: J-e-a-n-n-e. Jeanne, period.
the quilt my kids always want to sleep under, regardless of the temperature. the quilt the cats nap best on.
the quilt that’s frayed from much selfish taking and not nearly enough giving; ragged from more use than care. the quilt that’s in obvious need of an infusion of respect and appreciation.
now i don’t know much about mending, and i’m loathe to add chirpy new fabric to the weathered old fabric, so maybe i start by cutting up those old aprons – i mean, really: who’s ever gonna’ tie one around their waist again?
reclamation and restoration is something i’ve been pondering for a while now, and in the dark early hours of this morning, i realized that it’s a project whose time has come.
yes, it’s time.
it’s oh so time.
enjoy! if you run out of old aprons what about using the reverse of the chirpy new fabrics – to tone them down? i do see a rather chirpy bright red (and blue spot?) near your cats tail so they might all blend anyway
well, paula, i do believe you’ve hit upon a good idea: use the wrong (not-so-chirpy) side of the fabric. duh on me. and i was the one who made her own dress for the senior prom using the “wrong” side of the fabric, thus horrifying my mother and her friends. gonna’ bounce your way later and see what you’ve been up to.
well I’ve gotten distracted from the actual purpose of this post – mother henning to myself about you being awake fretting over the details of tending to others. There’s some projection there as well as protective concern so … now that I’m clearer about that I came back to re-absorb and ponder afresh. Love the emphatic simplicity of your embroidered name. Period.
i declare, acey. i wouldn’t know you if you sat right next to me on a bench, but you seem to know me better than some people i see daily. and for reasons i can’t (yet) explain, the period after my name speaks to me. like some secret message from grandmother’s hands to my heart. . .
a dot, a soft spot, a beginning, and end, and everything in between. mending is the simplest form of understanding. we will enjoy it with you.
jude, i think you said it all – with the succulent simplicity and eloquence i love you for.