A mother’s advice
This week, Faith Laursen, former publisher of this newspaper, would have turned 95. Not many readers will remember her, although in her time she had as many friends who were decades younger as those who were her age or older.
In 1958, together with our father, her husband and fellow journalist Johannes Laursen, she bought Merrick Life, which had been founded by Karl Anton Jr. in 1938. In 1964, our father founded Bellmore Life and became active in the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce. In the following two decades, they bought first The Wantagh-Seaford Citizen and then The Freeport-Baldwin Leader.
Now, the second generation has taken on the job, and besides the example set by our parents, we have a number of my mother’s sayings to guide us.
One of the earliest that she herself heard from her mother growing up is “Pretty is as pretty does.” We learn to appreciate people for their good deeds.
Another, told often to those seeking publicity for an event, is “You have to tell them about it, remind them about it, and then say, ‘Here it is!’ ” That means, people need to hear about it at least three times.
She figured that if both sides in a dispute were jealous of the coverage given the other, we must be getting close to an even balance.
Those seeking a solution to a problem were advised to “get everybody together in a room.” Otherwise, each level of government will just blame the other and nothing will change.
Keeping some open spaces and taking time to smell the roses was important to her. And that is why the Faith Laursen Meroke Preserve on the Bellmore-Merrick border was named for her.
She thought local history was important to help give a community a sense of its own unique place.
Coming of age in the Great Depression, she learned to save, walking a mile to spare a stamp and sharing ball gowns in college. One cousin remembers visiting once and hearing, “If you need anything just ask. I will tell you where to find it or how to do without it.”
She loved to entertain and always let people bring an arrangement or a dish. “If you want to make a friend, let her do you a favor,” she confided, while noting that you have to be careful while doing favors for others, lest they feel obligated and resent it.
She loved being a journalist because she loved people. “Everyone has a story,” she would say.
She had an enormous zest for life, enduring three decades past her first bout with cancer. “It’s been fun,” she said at the end.
We should all live our lives so as to be as grateful for them.