I had cut out pictures of notable figures from present and history and stapled them on the wall by desk at Wilshire. I used to joke they were my family. Nelson Mandela was my father. Oprah was an aunt. Wayne Gretzky and Ryan Smyth were there but I can’t remember how we were related. Jude Law was one of my husbands. And Mother Teresa was, you guessed it played a motherly role.
Ten years ago today Mother Teresa died. I was 24. I remember thinking she lived what I can only imagine a truly fulfilling and saintly life. She was a nun. She was a teacher. She cared for the unwanted and the unloved. She followed a path that God had laid out for her. Throughout her lifetime she humbly received various awards and honors for her work in Asia and India. She died at age 87 in Kolkata.
It saddens me today that the local papers barely mentioned the anniversary of her passing. Sure there were brief articles but nothing in comparison to the spread that was launched the other day marking the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Come on she was a damn princess for gawd’s sake. Sure she did her charity work but it was nothing in comparison to what Mother Teresa accomplished.
A few weeks ago Lisa, Jennie and I were discussing the recent news Mother Teresa’s private letters were going to be published in a new book. In her letters to a spiritual advisor, she questions her faith and doubts God. If Mother Teresa, of all people had doubts then surely it’s okay for others to question, isn’t it?