A Remembrance of Mid

Exeter was a dirt road in those days and Mid arrived at our soon-to-be construction site in a cloud of dust. She popped out of her car in short order to introduce herself and, I imagine take stock of us. We were covered in mud, bedraggled and definitely not looking very sharp. After a quick conversation with my father, who was also in Real Estate, Mid sized me up and quipped, “I have a daughter your age and I bet she could show you the ropes at Kaibab Elementary.”
From there a match made in heaven was created and I would spend time between our two homes buffeted from the world in the lush citrus groves and horse properties of Arcadia.
I was fascinated by Mildred Seedorff Wolfswinkel from the first day I met her. From the eyes of a young girl, Mid was a marvel. She was perhaps the first professional woman I encountered who worked outside the home. She was a single parent of four glamorous girls each with their own strong personalities and individual lives. Mid, although tasked with managing a busy home life and a bevy of teenaged blondes, was amazingly calm. I have wondered how she could be a trailblazer in business, a homemaker, mother and friend with such aplomb. I never heard her raise her voice or even be the slightest bit crabby.
Lord knows I did not want to be the one who would break Mid Wolfswinkel’s calm demeanor. I knew deep down that she was a tough cookie, who I did not want to tangle with. I always sought her approval and yearned for a glimpse of her dry humor. She had a marvelous ability to offer a running commentary of things swirling around us. Witty observance, tinged with droll narration, Mid had the ability to boil down any situation. I marveled at her view of the world and uncanny insights into the human condition. While she never spoke unkindly of anyone, she was able to move right to the crux of the matter when it came to personalities and the foibles of character.
That’s not to say that Mid would suffer fools lightly, she was someone who could magically take note of the situation and somehow make an insightful determination. She was full of compassion, yet looked towards the human spirit with an eye of self-reliance and determination. I think this was her instinct, knowledge of the natural world and education having earned a degree in Sociology in the 1950s.
As my husband, Jeff Jennings, reminded me, Mid Wolfswinkel ”Leaned In” before any of us knew what that meant. She navigated the male dominated waters of Real Estate which could not have been easy. While I knew she was a maverick, I must admit that I never heard her complain of the glass ceiling or challenges caused by the men in her life. However, I did understand that in her life and the way she led her daughters, there was a subtle current of girl power that rippled across of us. It was implied that we needed to do better, be better and work harder.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things I learned from Mid Wolfswinkel was the demand and call for volunteership. Mid, although incredibly busy, always seemed to find time for community service. She took the best parts of her knowledge, faith and dedication to family to our broader community. If you were lucky enough to receive a home-baked delight you were probably fortunate enough to get a little advice with that slice of cake.
Mildred Wolfswinkel will remain with me through my days. From time spent draped across a horse paddock fence, her cozy kitchen on Exeter or even a car-pool ride, I have Mid’s life lessons imprinted on me. She taught me how to be a strong mother, community leader and advocate. Her humor mixed with wisdom and the acceptance of human frailty, continue to guide me as I know they will guide her daughters Laurel, Christie, Kelley and Kimberly.
From the Heart…