Tribute to Elaine

By Jodi Bager

Have you ever heard of The Butterfly Effect?
The Butterfly Effect goes something like this:  The flap of a butterfly's wings in Central Park could ultimately cause an earthquake in China. So say the proponents of “chaos theory”, who use The Butterfly Effect to describe how small and apparently insignificant incidents can set in motion a chain of events with far reaching disastrous consequences. 

So what term could be used to illustrate ostensibly small incidents which result in miraculous events?  What term would you use to explain the tremendous impact that the work of one seemingly ordinary mother had on thousands of people the world over?  What would you call that effect?  Well let’s just call that The “Gottschall” Effect. Years ago Elaine’s Gottschall began a journey that set off a chain of extraordinary events altering more lives and generations than she ever imagined. The miracle of The Gottschall Effect is immeasurable: it gave so many of us back our lives. It gave so many of us back our children. It gave children back their parents and husbands back their wives. And for me, in addition to all this, The Gottschall Effect virtually changed the course of my life.

The list of words I can use to describe Elaine are endless -
She was energetic, spontaneous, funny, loving, fun-loving, hard-working, sympathetic, and generous of time and spirit. Elaine was educated, driven, interested and interesting. Elaine was a party girl.  Elaine loved wine with dinner, she loved wine with lunch, heck, Elaine loved wine before lunch! She loved her celebratory beer. Elaine was an avid movie go-er and, as Lucy Rossett pointed out when we spoke on the phone, this tells a lot about Elaine -  for it shows that she was a woman who changed with the times and found power in keeping up with world around her. Elaine loved eating and she loved food, and she loved SCD food best of all. Elaine was adventurous; she tried sushi for the first time, with me 3 years ago, and loved it - incredulous that she had lived a full 81 years without it.  Elaine was ageless; she cultivated friends of all ages and with her there was no generation gap.   Elaine was witty; she often reminded us that her 6th Nobel Prize was won for her almond flour muffins.

It is very important to me today to acknowledge Joan and Judy, Elaine’s two gracious daughters.  I thank you for this honour. You have been selfless in sharing your mother with all of us and for allowing this day to focus on this important part of her life.  I know you know how spectacular she was, and to have spent so much of your lives sharing her with us shows that the generosity of spirit that was so much a part of her being, she undoubtedly passed on to the two of you.  From all of us, I thank you for lending us your mother.  And please know that although the loss we feel is great, we know that you two have lost the most of all.

Elaine, I know you are watching us. You will be proud of what we do. We know we will forever be guided by your forceful, nudging hand. We will continue to plant the seeds and we promise Elaine, we will prove worthy of the legacy you have entrusted to us.

Jodi