| What were Tamar’s favorite photos or moments in nature? |
My mom lived deeply entwined with the natural world her whole life and chose to raise her daughter (me) on a slice of land with boat access only on Salt Spring Island. My mom spent countless hours observing wildlife—eagles, herons, seals, and whales. She always had a blind set up on the bluff where she would camp out patiently for hours – even days on end. One evening, believing the baby eagles were on the cusp of their first flight, we excitedly packed our sleeping bags and thermoses of hot cocoa. We hiked 35 min up the bluff to camp. As night unfolded, it started pouring. POURING! And we hadn’t brought a tent. Of course, the only path was to craft a makeshift shelter with fallen cedar and fir boughs. Throughout the night, our shelter continued to collapse on us and we kept emerging from our sleeping bags, sopping wet, sneaking sips of hot coco, to fix the shelter. By morning, we were soaked, tired and rewarded with the eagle’s first flight – a testament to my mother’s dedication and deep connection with the natural world.
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| What was it like growing up with your mom on Salt Spring Island? |
As a child, I didn’t realize how unusual our remote lifestyle was until I ventured into the larger world; it always felt normal for me to take a boat, car and bus to get to school each day and I loved the time of transition between school and home. When I was in the boat and I felt like the sea held me. In high school, I drove myself (I was driving a boat before I learned to drive a car) and often shut off the boat engine and drifted in the Salish Sea, feeling the roll of waves and breathing in the expanse of nature and stillness around me.
My mom’s intrepid spirit buoyed us through many challenges of living with boat access only. When the winds blew gale force, we might spend 10 days without power. No problem! We boiled water and heated our meals on the wood stove, snuggling by the fire with books, art, and games, surrounded by the gentle flicker of candlelight.
When the fog rolled in, if we were in town, we would brave navigating home by compass (which never worked for some reason). I remember the fog so thick it felt like land surrounded us in every direction. One of us would steer the boat while the other leaned over the side, peering into the dense mist to help navigate. Miraculously, we always managed to find our way home, either hugging the south shore or heading back to the wharf.
Sometimes, we even opted to hike home—2.5 hours through the forest, backpacks stuffed with groceries. I can still feel the delight of peeling a mandarin orange as we walked along deer trails and through mist-laden evergreens, to the welcome sight of our home by the sea.
These experiences, which might have been setbacks for some, were adventures for my mama. She met each moment with bravery, teaching me resilience and the joy of embracing life’s surprises.
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| What is something you feel that your mom was proud of throughout her life? |
My mama was most proud of me, her daughter, her son-in-law, and two granddaughters; she cherished and celebrated us with childlike delight. She was also very proud of her creative accomplishments: in her last year of life, she was blessed to see her memoire “Tamar at Sea” published, and she continued to sell her photographic works of art at local markets through her last month of life. My mom was deeply passionate about the natural world and her drive to protect the remaining wild spaces and animals was a common theme throughout her life. She advocated for the whales in the 1970s, then in the early 2000’s she was pivotal in preserving a large section of land on salt spring (and even posed for a nude calendar to raise money to buy the land). The community raised over $20,000 to preserve a large parcel of land!
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 Tamar’s daughter, Maya, her son in law Jerome and two granddaughters (Luna and Maya).
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| As her daughter, what is her legacy in the world? What do you feel she saw as important in her life? |
Most important to her: Family, the earth and its preservation, health (physical and mental), creative projects / always being curious about life, possessing an adventurous spirit, and her local community.
In her late 70’s my mom was living in town (very sensible!) and she acquired a slice of land in Sansum Narrows, accessible only by boat. The property – Misty Mt – was incredibly steep, with tents on platforms, the occasional cougar, and blissful wilderness. My mom loved it more than anything and I believe that having this retreat was vital for her wellbeing and ease of adapting to town life.
Before she passed, my mom miraculously completed an off-grid cabin at Misty Mt, which she affectionately called ‘the royal palace.’ While she loved sharing this haven with friends and family, she still preferred to hike up a steep hill at dusk to sleep in her rustic tent.
Family was also paramount for her and there was nothing she wanted more than to be a mother and she delighted in raising me. My mama loved spending playful time with her grand daughters and was also passionate about family history, discovering insight into the past.
She was very present with the natural world and strove to protect the earth and its creatures for future generations.
– She valued health (both physical and mental) highly as living an active and joyful life was very important to her.
– My mom was always curious about everything and everyone and prided herself of never being bored :)
– She believed that so much of life is one’s outlook and taking the time to heal, so one can live fully.
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 Tamar presenting a student workshop in the 1970s.
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| What would you feel your mom’s message relevant to youth today would be? |
Find what you love and have the courage to follow it, because listening to your heart leads to a life of meaning and fulfillment. Take time to look within and heal, knowing that true resilience grows from wholeness. Stay close to family and friends, whose love and connection ground us through life. Always care for the Earth and all her creatures, so this beautiful world may be protected and cherished for generations to come. And remember to play and have fun on this wild and precious journey of life.
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