STELLA, MARIE & JANICE
Stella was my Polish grandma (babcia). She was a very strong woman who lived through the Great Depression, two World Wars, a divorce, and many other challenging times. She loved dancing and sewing (clothes bought at the stores rarely met her flamboyant taste, so she pretty much made all of her own). I still miss her ethnic Polish dishes and the smells of her small pantry. I made the Lalka (Polish for doll) soap for her, as she loved lilacs of all shades.
Marie is my French grandma (memere). She, too, has lived through many difficult times. She worked two jobs to keep an eight-person household running after my grandfather became ill from post traumatic stress disorder due to his time served in World War II. To this very day, in her eighties, her home is spotless. I made my Pauline soap for her. Lavender is her favorite fragrance. Though her birth certificate states her name as Marie, she has always been known as Pauline.
Janice was my mom and my best friend. She taught me many things, but more than anything, she showed me through her example that you can achieve anything you put your mind to.