Reply To: The humour of Louise Penny
Having raised four daughters myself I can so imagine what the Gamache home must be like with all the grandchildren and Isabelle’s kids there. The noise, the laughter, the pure energy of youth reverberating off the walls. Now I can smile and giggle about the insanity of it all. And I can so relate when Armand tells Daniel, “Now go rescue your mother. She has marshmallow in her hair, children under her skin, and Ruth up her nose.”
When I first thought of Ruth as a babysitter I could feel the grey hair springing forth on my head. Who would have thought this crazy old poet would be good at taking care of children. Who would have thought she would want to. But, when the antique little girl in Ruth comes out to play everyone under the age of eighteen has a wonderful time. The house may not so much. But the house will survive marshmallows on the ceiling and couch cushions all over the floor. What counts is the kids. What counts is that they are safe and loved and enjoying what could be a frightening and stressful time for them. I don’t know why Ruth loved kids like she does but it’s obvious to me that the kids love her as much as she seems to love them. The children have found the crack in Ruth’s tough exterior. They’ve let the light into her soul illuminating her love for them.
