And then it poured! Isn’t this grand, I said to the animals as they stood at their doors watching the rain come down. Sometimes on rainy days we tell each other stories. Daisy wanted to know why she had been called Daisy. 
It all started with a rainy day I said to Daisy. With the rain pouring down. I said this to a very old woman once, I was terribly young. She had said to me, What is the weather, celi? Oh, Mrs Murphy, I said, it is raining down. She looked at me over her spectacles. Well, she said, it would look bloody silly if it was raining UP wouldn’t it? Daisy always chortles at this part of the story. Have you ever heard a cow chortle. 
She was such a sharp tongued old woman. I loved her. She was my favourite on that ward. She would say to me: Oh Celi. You have such beautiful eyes. Then she would pause for effect. Just like my old cow, Daisy. And she would turn back to her newspaper trying to keep a straight face. 
If I ever have a cow, I would say to her after I got to know her better, (here I would pause), I am going to name her Daisy – after YOU. At this she would laugh out loud and send me to fetch something that she knew was right at the other end of the ward that she did not really want anyway. 
Daisy loves that story.
During those years I had the very rare privilege of being present at the deaths of four old women. Mrs Murphy had no family who visited. Once she signed over the farm she never saw her son and his miserable wife again. So Matron was happy for me to sit with her at the end. Matron was very good at knowing when it was time to begin the sitting. “I am glad it was you” was the last thing Mrs Murphy said. Using the past tense as though she were already gone. Mrs Murphy was a tiny woman. A tough, mean, old loveable woman. But I bet she ran her small herd of milking cows with an iron hand. 
Good morning. There is a story behind every good name. Don’t you think?
It rained again in the night. Nothing really terrible, just welcome rain. Once again we are at the high temperatures for the day, 43F (6C). This is the end of our warm spell. I will have to light the fire again today. It has gone unlit for three days now.
And now I must rush out the door. I am late. And Daisy does not care who I named her after if I am late!
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
45 responses to “Hiding out from the Rain and the Story of Daisy’s name”
a tear for Mrs Murphy…from oz…and for other memories
What a lovely story how Daisy got her name Celi and how very sad about Mrs Murphys family!
🙂 Mandy xo
This made me cry. I’d love to have you near me when I die.
What an absolute treasure of a story.That everyone should have such a wonderful story behind their name.
The last thing we should hope to see in this life is a Friendly Face…you could give her that.
I can hear the cow’s chortle…Silly Daisy!
Sometimes. Celi, you reach into that story bag of yours and pull out a real gem. This was one of those times. Thanks.
Glad last night’s storms just passed through and did nothing more. Now, if this next cold front will come here without any ice, we’ll all be doing pretty well.
Have a great day!
That lady was lucky to have you…and you to have met her.
Christine
I always enjoy those little glimpses from your past. We’re starting to get some wind with thunder storms still holding off for now. Maybe by this afternoon. We’ll be back to cold and maybe some snow tomorrow! Time to go fill the oil lamps and clean the globes. Have a great day Celi.
I love that story, what a lovely tribute to keep her in your memories.
Unfortunately this struck a chord, and brought a tear
When it’s my time to go.. will you come sit with me.. you sound like the person we all seek to see us pass to the next adventure.. specially with stories like this.. wonderful.. I love this post..what?.. I love this blog…
Is. I agree with Daisy and laughed out loud at the appropriate times. Or not, since I am sitting in a doctor’s waiting room right now my laughs may not be terribly welcomed by the worried faces around me. Perhaps I should read your post aloud and cheer up the whole lot of them…
Lovely story—absolutely lovely. Daisy is blessed to carry that name and we are all blessed to be able to have shared in the story you shared. Hope you stay warm–we are getting snow and crazy wind in Iowa today. It looks like winter has found us again.
Ha! And here I thought Daisy got her name from all the wildflowers around your place….
I love that cow, but you already know that. And now I specially love her name. As a nurse I have been present at a lot of passings and your word is exactly right – it is a priviledge.