Fashion,  Just life....

My Marvelous Mother-in-Law

May 13, 2020 /

I really hit the jackpot with my marriage to The Cutest Boy in the World (TCBW). Not only is he a prince, the package came with the sweetest and coolest MIL one could ask for. This week, between Mother’s Day and her 88th birthday this weekend, I’d like to pay her a little tribute, and I think you’ll enjoy coming along for the ride.

Born and raised in Germany near Stuttgart, her name is Gudrun, but her nickname is Goodie. How great is that? She also has more style in her little finger than most of us ever dream of.

1940, before her two older brothers went off to war in the German army. Both of them survived the war, despite being captured by the Russians, and all three grown children emigrated to the US with their spouses after the war.

Goodie had a sheltered childhood despite the war, with no fighting near their home or bombing of their romantic half-timbered town of Kirchheim. After the war, she met a handsome and charming former soldier at a dance class and was swept off her feet. They were married 5 years later.

Tall and slender, Goodie was blessed with thick auburn hair.

Emigrating first to Canada, and then to Cleveland, the couple eventually moved to Lexington, Kentucky and a career with IBM. Goodie held jobs with various businesses through the years, ranging from typist to machine operator to translator.

Here they are with their very first automobile. Their early years were on a shoestring budget, and Goodie became quite the seamstress.

Welcoming three sons, Goodie not only kept herself stylishly turned out, but taught herself to make riding clothes to support her husband and sons’ equestrian pursuits. While not a rider herself, Goodie braided manes, held horses for blacksmiths, pulled horsetrailers behind the family sedan and foaled a mare or two along the way.

Goodie with her middle son, TCBW (my husband)

Goodie and her husband were instrumental in bringing the Land Rover 3 Day event to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1978. While on a trip to England to observe the organization of the Burghley Horse Trials, they found themselves invited to a party that was a bit “smarter” than she had planned. Lacking a swanky evening gown, the best thing she could find in her suitcase on short notice was an elegant nightgown, which she wore with jewelry and heels and no one was the wiser! I’m SO sorry I don’t have a photo of that!

Her beloved husband Helmut died in 2016. Goodie has forged an independent life in the years since.

Christmas 2019 with her niece Carmen from Germany

Goodie has volunteered with many organizations over the years, but the one closest to her heart is Best Friends, an Alzheimer’s daycare program she has worked with for 28 years. Despite knee and hip replacements, Goodie still spends one afternoon every week with the patients, being paired with a specific person, learning their story and being their “best friend” for the day.

Goodie with her older brother Gerd, who died last year. Portraits of their great-grandparents are behind them over the mantel.

She may be best known for her wonderful sense of humor and how she loves to laugh! You may get a hint of her bubbling personality from these photos.

Goodie had never worn this dress before our photo shoot last week – it still had the tags on it! The topper was a sweater with a tank top liner which she snipped out to wear over this dress.

I really admire how Goodie has embraced aging gracefully without “letting herself go”, despite the health challenges that come with advancing years.

This is another dress she had never worn, and we had fun styling it with two different cardigans

She puts thought and effort into getting dressed every day, whatever the occasion. It really inspires me as I look at the future and turning SIXTY this year! If I’m lucky enough to make it to my 80’s like Goodie does, bring it on!

If you enjoyed this, please let me know in the Comments, and I’ll make sure they get passed on to Goodie. Feel free to take a look at the rest of the blog, and sign up if you want to be notified as new posts come out.

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46 Comments

      • Janet Collins Becker

        May 13, 2020 at 7:05 pm Reply

        Great tribute to a very special lady! Wishing you a happy birthday Goodie! Love from Janet and Friedbert

      • Jutta Meyer

        October 8, 2024 at 4:05 pm Reply

        Hallo MK, tut mir leid dass ich mich nicht erinnern kann…tut mir ehrlich leid. Seit dem Tod unserer Tochter ist halt mein Kopf auch nicht mehr das was er mal war. Gudrun hat mir damals einen sehr liebevollen Brief geschrieben und ich wollte mich bedanken und habe telefoniert, aber leider ging niemand ans Telefon. Aber ich denke öfter an sie und unsere Treffen in Nicholasville oder hier in Kirchheim. Grüße sie bitte ganz herzlich von mir. Wenn möglich.

  • Karen Kindler

    May 13, 2020 at 11:45 am Reply

    Wow! Loved the pix and article! So glad she has you (and the guys, of course) in her life. I always admired her attitude, and envied her eternal good looks. Hard to believe she’s in her 80s! Enjoy the b’day celebration! Happy birthday to Goodie.

  • Connie Wright Stanley

    May 13, 2020 at 11:53 am Reply

    MK,
    I loved this post. Oh my goodness you hit the jackpot having Goodie for your MIL. If I ever make it to your place I would love to meet Goodie. She has done, seen, and is doing so many different things with her life. One impressive lady who also happens to be beautiful and so well turned out. In the picture with you in the black dress I think you could pass as her Daughter. Need the posts coming. Thank you for sharing Goodie with me. Give TCBW a Hug for me.
    Laters,
    C

    • Jutta Meyer

      July 24, 2024 at 6:05 pm Reply

      Ich habe mich sehr gefreut zu lesen, dass es Gudrun gut geht. Ich habe öfters an sie gedacht und habe viele wunderschöne Erinnerungen. Danke für diesen Beitrag , auch wenn wir uns nicht kennen.
      ganz liebe Grüße Jutta aus Kirchheim unter Teck

      • mkmiller

        August 2, 2024 at 6:06 pm Reply

        You are so welcome Jutta! I think we may have met when I was in Germany with Glenn, Helmut & Goodie. Best wishes to all the family.

  • Solvai Sanchez

    May 13, 2020 at 11:53 am Reply

    I loved your article about your MIL. My own mother, at 93, is also a lady of style she never leaves the house without being dressed well and stylishly. She is my hero and role model. She said “the older you are the better you have to look in clothes.”

  • Lesley

    May 13, 2020 at 12:36 pm Reply

    What a wonderful love letter to your MIL. How lucky you are to have this woman as a friend and mil. I’d bet you two have a blast together and the laughs never stop. Great pictures btw.

    • mkmiller

      May 13, 2020 at 12:47 pm Reply

      Thanks, Lesley! I am lucky indeed, and sometimes we laugh so hard our stomachs hurt! Stay well out there, my friend.

  • jodie filogomo

    May 13, 2020 at 4:09 pm Reply

    This is absolutely wonderful MK. I do wish you had a photo of that nightgown as a dress….talk about making lounge wear work for any occasion!!!
    We are blessed to have such inspirations in our lives. I hope to see more of Goodie here!!
    XOOX
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  • Janet Replogle

    May 13, 2020 at 5:19 pm Reply

    Loved it! What a portrait in elegance and the pictures are fabulous. I love the clothing in the 1940 picture. The two of you are particularly photogenic. Happy birthday, Miss Goodie!

  • Judy Stallings

    May 13, 2020 at 7:02 pm Reply

    Loved “meeting” your MIL today! What a treasure she is!! Hug her and squeeze her as often as you can.

  • Rebecca saffer

    May 13, 2020 at 8:29 pm Reply

    Hi Mary Katherine! I discovered your blog via my darling Jodie Filogomo. What a delightful post this is about your stunning Mother-in-law! She looks beautiful and I love that she continues to dress and live in such an affirmative and positive fashion (she should meet Jodie’s incredible mom Charlotte!!) I know I will enjoy your blog and look forward to your posts.

  • Gudrun (Goodie) Graetz

    May 14, 2020 at 1:04 am Reply

    I am deeply humbled by your kind and generous remarks about Mary Katherine’s wonderful write-up. I’m so lucky for having her as my daughter-in-law.

  • Jo Davis

    May 14, 2020 at 12:08 pm Reply

    I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during that photo shoot! Lots of giggling, I bet. Loved hearing about Goodie!

  • Klaus-Ulrich Aicheler

    May 15, 2020 at 6:52 am Reply

    Hello MK this is a very elaborate and extensively written life run over Gudrun with great photos with it. Thank you very much for this

  • David Iorio

    May 16, 2020 at 3:14 pm Reply

    Who do you think you are? I always knew you were smart and learned but it is so nice to see it in writing too. Writing it down makes your thoughts clearer for all. It doesn’t appear you have many male followers but I very much like your style and have read all your posts (assuming they started on April 1). BTW, I love the photos. You are very photogenic. I, like you, do not take/have many photos of myself. You must have spent some significant time going through your trove of old photos.

    • mkmiller

      May 19, 2020 at 8:44 pm Reply

      Thanks, Dave! I’m having a lot of fun with it, I must say. I suspect you and Glenn are my ONLY male followers (along with my tech advisor Rob), and that’s just fine with me!

  • Gail

    May 28, 2020 at 7:09 am Reply

    Thrilled to see you linking at #WowOnWednesday! I enjoyed meeting Goodie. What an extraordinary woman. I can see her spirit, and style, and everything she stands for.

    • mkmiller

      June 24, 2020 at 1:54 pm Reply

      Thanks, Emerald! I lost my own mother in 1996, and I am lucky beyond belief to have this lady in my life to love and learn from.

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