Mothers & daughters: a tribute to Darcy Johnson

by Linnea Johnson

Share a bit about yourself, your interests, and your stage of life.

My name is Linnea, and I’m the daughter of Darcy Johnson. You most likely have seen me around Calvary, as it has been my home church for all of my life. I am the youngest kid in my family with three older siblings. My two sisters and brother are no longer in Rochester and are starting their own families. I am connected to Foundation, the young adult small group at Calvary.

I have a lot of niche interests that ebb and flow at different times in my life. Some of the things that have always remained consistent is a love for stories, art and music. This has led to an interest in books, films, tv shows, DnD, drawing, a ridiculous amount of other art mediums, and listening to a wide variety of music. I also think that animals are really neat. I currently have a bearded dragon named Calcifer, who is my pride and joy.

For my current stage in life, I am just trying to figure out what to do with my life. With my wide variety of interests and short attention span, it can be hard to find a consistent and sure path forward other than a vague direction. Right now, I am a sterile processing technician at Mayo Clinic, and I am looking for career options that combine my love for art and people. Right now I am learning to trust God’s leading rather than what my own personal plans for my life are. It’s not an easy process, but I am ultimately trying to follow God’s good and perfect plan, even if it has led me on paths I didn’t anticipate.

How are you similar and different from your mom?

When describing the relationship my mom and I have, it can be hard to explain our dynamics. I think it’s difficult to compare me and my mom because I feel that we often have similar views, goals and interests, but completely different ways of achieving them. She tends to think through her options with a goal in mind and move forward with directed passion, whereas I tend to dive in headfirst with reckless abandon. Because of this, I tend to be someone who is more willing to push the envelope and be more daring in that sense. The anxiousness that often comes with new situations or tasks doesn’t really daunt me, whereas I know my mom prefers to have a bit more information before moving forward. I feel this dynamic is most clear whenever we play board games and card games together. We both are pursuing the same goal to win the game, being that we are both competitive. However, while she first reads through all of the rules and seeks to completely understand the game, I am much more comfortable with learning on the fly and trying potentially risky strategies.

I also feel that we are both protective towards those we care about. She has the epitome of the ‘mama bear’ attitude and I am happy that I have inherited that same attribute. While we are both generally agreeable people and mild-mannered in some ways, I know that we are both the first to dive into a situation where those we care about are vulnerable. It is especially in those moments that we are unafraid of being ourselves and standing for what we believe in.

These are the kinds of attributes and values that I am proud to share with her. I know that they are things that were cultivated in my childhood and simply grew as I came into my own. Growing up, I would say that I was probably considered to be the ‘token weird kid’ that people knew. I was always full of energy and excitement for things that most people often didn’t take much interest in. I would say it was in that space where my mom has encouraged me and nurtured me the most.

What is an activity you enjoy doing with your mom?

In terms of similarities between me and my mom, I feel we have a very similar sense of humor. We tend to find the same things funny, usually because they are absurd or unexpected. It’s because of this that one of my favorite things to do with my mom is to do mundane tasks together. I feel like regardless of whether we are running errands, getting supper ready, or just sitting in the living room and talking, we always will be able to laugh and have fun in that. Some of the times we have laughed the most were when we simply were at the store, both of us trying and failing to find a certain item on the list or getting lost. It’s small moments like those that I will always cherish and find joy in.

Share a core memory from your childhood. 

One memory that I distinctly remember with my mom was from the fifth grade when I was around ten years old. Halloween was approaching and because at the time I was fascinated by platypi, I wanted to be a platypus for halloween. Obviously, there were no stores that were going to be selling a realistic platypus costume, so my mom set out to make me one. It took a couple weeks and a lot of creativity to make it, but by Halloween I was a full fledged platypus complete with webbed feet and a giant duckbill that hung over my face. I remember that costume so clearly because I remember the amount of effort and thought my mom put into it. I remember thinking that she was a creative genius that was able to make my wild imagination unfold before my very eyes. Not only did she make an awesome costume for me, but she also included me in the process and made it FUN.

I can safely say that she is to blame for my belief that I can do anything as long as I set my mind to it and think it through. This memory sticks out in my mind because she showed me that obstacles were simply just problems to solve. Alongside her, I felt that I could overcome anything with my imagination, some planning and hard work. There really was no limit, just skills to be built, experiences to be had, and perseverance to learn from your mistakes. I feel that I have been able to apply that to life, regardless of what has been thrown my way.

What is something that you love and appreciate about your mom?

My mom has always been able to take my impulsivity and passion in stride. My excitement can often cause me to dive into something a lot bigger than I was anticipating. I can then be overwhelmed or thrown into a situation that I am horribly unprepared for. That is where my mom’s patience, wisdom and cool head can truly shine. 

All throughout my life, I distinctly remember times in which I have brought an idea to her and rather than try and talk me out of it, she instead helped me create a practical way forward. In a way, she has always felt like a reliable sounding board. I would be hard pressed to find a time where she immediately told me no. Instead, she would always hear me and my reasoning out first before offering advice, solutions, or even sometimes diving in headfirst alongside me. Of course there have also been plenty of times where I brought my new scheme or idea to her and through the process of practical questions, I then decided to find a new direction. However, it is always her support that has encouraged me to continue forward in life and keep my passions alive, rather than settle for indifference.

In that same reliability when it comes to my creative ideas, she also takes all of my hardships in a stride as well. While I feel that I may be knocked down by unexpected curveballs that life has thrown at me, I know that my mom is always there to help me get back up and move forward. Whatever daunting task is before me, I know that I can rely on her to help me focus on the next step ahead rather than the mountain I am trying to scale. I know that I tend to be someone who prefers to endure hurt and hardship in silence, but even her quiet presence and reassurance through those times has been invaluable. I feel that some of the times where minimal words were exchanged between us, and she just sat with me in that pain, were some of the moments that gave me the most strength and comfort. This continued consistency and reliability has drawn me ever closer to God as well, knowing that the same reliability can be found in my heavenly parent too. Her character is one that models Jesus with his faithfulness and wisdom in his leading–being a safe and secure guide. The comfort I find in pain from her is similar to the comfort and peace I find in God when enduring hardship.

In big decisions like moving to Australia for a couple years and in small decisions like dyeing my hair or taking on a new project, I know that I can rely on my mom’s encouragement to pursue my passions and to be my authentic self. She truly has demonstrated to me that I should be my own unique self and work hard, even if others are going on a different path. 

If you could give your mom any gift, no matter the expense or impossibility, what would it be?

I am so incredibly thankful to be blessed with a mom like her who celebrates my differences and encourages my pursuits. If I were to give my mom any gift in the world, I would love to bring the entire family together and travel. She never passes up an opportunity to see the grandkids and I know that she cherishes all of the time that we can be together as a family. I can’t imagine a better way to thank her for everything she’s done for all of us than to make more memories with her. To travel together would simply be an extension of what she showed us to value: being yourself with the ones you love and braving life together.