Miss B
Her skin was a beautiful bronze caramel with some patched areas on her cheeks. She wore gray hair well in a ponytail with little braids. My son Eazy loved her red cat-eyed glasses and I did too.
Her name is Miss B (using her first initial for privacy). We found her sitting quietly under tree shade in a lawn chair next to two yorkies named Jake and Chloe and a couple books. She noticed us, walking back to the car with skateboards and a scooter. “She’s fearless” referring to my 3-year-old daughter flying down the hill without a helmet, oops. But bess didn’t think of me as an irresponsible mother. She liked it. That Remi was freely flying down the hill. Next time she’ll have her helmet on.
Miss B handed Remi and Eazy the dog leashes for them to walk Jake and Chloe. You couldn’t tell my kids anything. They were on top of the world. Remi wants a dog so bad. If you could see their little bodies walking the dogs you’d laugh and smile all at once. It was so precious. So good. I giggled at the smallness of their bodies walking and guiding those little dogs.
Miss B was amazing. She made me stop to think about the magic of childhood. The magic of raising two small children and how well they talked to her with focused eye contact and attention. “I can tell you spend a lot of time with them.” This comment made me feel so good inside. I needed that reminder that I was doing something right. That I was putting in the time and fruit was starting to come. Bess noticed. I loved her attentive spirit. Her speech and tone was calm. Her eyes and ears payed attention well. She listened. She waited and gave patience to me and my kids. It’s something about her. I can’t put my finger on it. But she’s special. 69 years of wisdom and goodness talking to me.
We started talking about her childhood. Miss B is one of 8. She spent her days creating kites, riding her bike, throwing marbles and running outside with neighborhood kids. Back then they they made a lot of things by hand like a whole go-cart. How amazing is that? Her days were full and rich. She said she didn’t realize she was poor until years later into her life. But she was rich in many other things. TV in her time came in black and white until she was 12 years-old. My mouth dropped. I wish we somehow still had black and white TV now. Maybe we’d be much less stimulated and more in our right minds. She enjoys reading and flying kites and did enjoy biking for long periods of time but now that has slowed way down.
She pulled her shirt over to show me the scar where a pacemaker was placed behind the skin of her left chest high up not far from the shoulder blade. Today Miss B found out she needs a heart transplant. That’s why she chose to come outside to commune with nature. I told her it was a good idea. Miss B didn’t look like she needed a heart transplant. Her mind was vibrant, her face was beautiful and sweet. You’d never know what someone is going through until you learn more about them. It sounds cliche but it’s the truth. I prayed for her later on in my prayer time.
I pray the world gets to have more of Miss B. She blessed us. A person’s presence can bless people. Lord may her days be long and let your face shine upon her, meet her in her dreams.
We exchanged numbers to stay in contact and fly kites together with my kids. I initiated. I wasn’t letting our connection go, I need more time with Bess and my kids do too. I’m so glad she was sitting under that tree on the way to the car. I will never forget her.