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Dear Margot,
After all our time at school I still can’t quite believe you signed up for so much more but it’s good to hear how much you’re still loving Edinburgh. I tried to find a gift to send but it’s difficult to find anything here that’s made for the kind of cold and grey you must be having there. Are you sure you don’t want to come and study here in Australia?
I loved hearing about your anatomy lectures, though I want to hear about them from you in person because I can imagine your face and I suspect you wouldn’t be so polite and careful if you were here with me! How does it feel knowing your father and assorted uncles must have sat through them too? I guess you never have been squeamish but I can’t believe you think that might be where you want to head rather than infectious diseases. Have you spoken to your parents about that yet, I guess Joey might be hoping you’ll end up at the San?
Let me know more about Len’s engagement, she always seemed so on her dignity about everything it’s strange to hear your stories but then I guess people would say the same about me as a responsible mother.
Can you tell I’m ignoring the end of your last letter? Of course you can. It’s not as if I didn’t know, the way you talked about Sr Cecile, your visit to the Sisters when you were here and your struggles with your “devil” are hard to ignore but I guess now I’m a mum it’s hard to imagine you never being one.
Still. Wanting to join an Order doesn’t mean your degree goes to waste. I’ve enclosed some newspaper clippings about a Sister who died last year, Sister Mary Glowrey. She died in India but she became a doctor here in Australia and she was able to be both.
It’s a big step but you’ve never done things quietly and if you can hear God calling you to become a nun I’m pretty sure all of us can hear that He’s calling you to be a doctor too.
Whatever you decide come and visit us again before it’s final, some sunshine and rest after your final exams and before your first residency?
Love Emmy
Chère Margot,
I was very glad to receive your letter, Joey writes often of how you are doing but that is nothing to hearing from you in your own words.
Of course I remember our conversations, even back to when I first decided to join the La Sagesse all those years ago. I know it seemed very strange to you as a child but I remember how many questions you asked too, far more than your sisters or your cousins. And after when we find dear Adrienne I could feel your call.
I wish I could sit face to face with you now and speak to you as your aunt with a milky coffee and one of your beloved cream cakes. Joey had told me you seemed to find these later years of your studies challenging, I think perhaps you haven’t spoken to her or your father yet? I think they would understand but also I know that my dear Joey can be overwhelming when you are still considering your future.
I’m glad Len and Con know of your calling to the sisterhood as well as to medicine. And I do believe you are called to both. You speak of having to give up one of the other but I think if you are being called to both then you should listen.
Did I ever tell you why I chose La Sagesse to enter? Our Founder, Sr Marie Louise Trichet, valued the learning of the women who joined her as well as their faith. Our name in the English house is Daughters of Wisdom and one of her sayings, which we keep close to our hearts, is that we should be “women consecrated to Christ, devoured by love for the poor, in order to live the folly of the Gospel.”
Finish your studies, keep exploring your faith, I am sure a doctor with your skills and compassion could serve in many communities.
I hope to visit your parents briefly in the Summer, around July, I hope perhaps that will coincide with your holidays and we can speak in person.
All my love and prayers,
Soeur Cècile
Margot,
Well that was quite the letter! I guess you’ve spoken to your Trips about this before but I’m proud you picked me next. I guess we are the family’s black sheep as far as any of us are and I definitely remembered those chats we had about not giving in to our tempations!
I know I still do quite a bit. I think Stephen and Charles would prefer to have a quieter little brother following them at school but I don’t think any of us Maynards have ever truly been quiet or un-noticeable. Charles likes to pretend he is but I’m pretty sure half the teachers here are afraid of him and when Con breaks out it’s unforgettable.
And I don’t only cause trouble! I’ve made the rugby team this year and even if lessons are a drag I have to keep up to stay on the team. There’s a chap on our team who plans to become a rancher with his uncle in Argentina when he leaves school and it’s made me think of all my options.
But this was meant to be about you. I don’t know why you think you have to pick doctor or nun. I know what you mean about Dad but he’d understand if medicine wasn’t for you, honest, only I don’t think that’s what you mean. I remember last Christmas when you helped that kiddie who slipped and broke their arm, you were so good and it was like a grown up doctor right there instead of my sister.
And I’m no good at talking about the other really but I can’t imagine how God would make you such an amazing doctor and then tell you to stop. And no I’ll never say that to your face.
I hope I’ll get to address you as Sister Doctor Margot Maynard one day.
Love Mike