Muriel Smith is one the few people I know who is still alive and well and living in Winnipeg. Born in May 1930, she will celebrate her 90th birthday this week, so she is half a year older than I. We were contemporaries at the University of Manitoba, but we did not lead parallel lives, far from it.

That is the last comparison I will make, I hope. The tendency and temptation is, when writing about another person, to make it about one’s self and not about her. This is to be a tribute to her life, expressing our gratitude for her presence among us and the contribution she has made to our lives. And what a contribution! You can Google her and check out her awards and her service to her community, both local and global, notably with an OC (Officer of Canada) and an Oder of Manitoba. WOW

Me again (sorry). We actually lived in the same community for a very short time. After post-grad at Oxford University, Muriel returned to Winnipeg (for more degrees), married and had children (private life) and an awesome career (public). She stayed in Winnipeg but became a citizen of the world. I left. I went on to lose family, friends, furniture, dentists and doctors—oh, and a husband. That’s enough about me. Muriel has been an anchor not only for me but for so many women, particularly,

So we were never intimate, lacking time and geography. We remained in each other’s periphery. I have made a point to see her on the increasingly rare occasions that I go to Wiinipeg and we keep in touch, as they say. So I have been honoured, with closer members of her cohort, to say something about this milestone event in her life.

Not much to say. Her life and career says it all. You done good, kid. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. I’m glad you were here. Thank you, dear, and happy birthday.

Bless,

Bettyjane Wylie