a gift, testimonial, compliment, or the like, given as due or in acknowledgment of gratitude or esteem.
I am writing this "tribute" about a person whom I have just reconnected with after almost a decade. It's amazing how life gets busy, and you can almost forget about people who once meant so much to you. Mrs. Brownell, this tribute is for you.
I have known Mrs. B. for almost my entire life. She was my sisters kindergarten teacher, and then my kindergarten teacher. My sister was in kindergarten when i was 2, and now I am turning 34 this year, its hard to imagine knowing someone for 99% of my life, that isn't a blood relative. Almost all of my childhood memories have Mrs. B. in them, she was very close to our family. Most importantly, she is the one who introduced our young minds to church. Our church was a small one growing up, maybe 30 or so people. Mostly old, but there were a few children around to play with. Usually after church Mrs. B. would come over for lunch, or take us out for something to eat, or even go fishing. I remember our travels all over the northern part of the state looking at the map just to find a new fishing spot. The time spent with Mrs. B. at such a young and malleable age is most likely the reason I am the person I am today!. I remember hardly ever hearing her curse, which is astounding growing up in the culture we did. This one time, apparently I said the word "crap" way too many times, and Mrs. B. took a hold of me, and explained abruptly that the word crap, was just like saying the word "shit".... I was speechless. That was the first, and possibly the only time I ever heard her say anything that bad. Mrs. B. was like the third parent, a mentor that every kid should have. I can't begin to think of what path my life would have taken had she not been a role model. Well, I shouldn't go that far, I did take a wrong turn, but the guidance she had given me up to that point, helped me to realize that I was going down the wrong path.
Recently, I had been thinking a lot about reconnecting with Mrs. B. and ran into one of her old colleagues, and was able to get her email address. Not even sure what to say, since it had been since my wedding that we had spoken, I directed her to this blog. My email to her has a signature on the bottom, as I sent it from work. It said that I as the store manager of Whites Lumber. In her response, she said she was proud of me.... *Gulp* Its amazing how one sentence like that can evoke such emotions. I don't hear that statement all that much. My loving wife tells me that, but isn't she supposed to? I don't remember hearing it that much from my parents, or any other family members. And hearing it from someone who means so much to me brought tears to my eyes. And is now also. That lead me to write this blog, in appreciation for Mrs. B. We so often go through life and never tell those that we care about, how much we truly are grateful and appreciative of the time they spent with us. This year Mrs. B. turns 79... I like to think that when we get to heaven, and enter the gates, there will be a line of people waiting to greet us, that we have touched in some way. I know that your line, Mrs. B. will be incredibly long, as you have touched so many people.
I guess I can never put into words what you truly mean and have meant to me... I hope that you can understand from the things I have stated in this blog that you have always been an important part of my life, and have shaped me into the man I have become, and the husband I have become, and the christian I have become. I hope to raise my daughter in a way that will closely resemble the way I was mentored by you. A million "Thank Yous" would never touch my gratitude for what you have done in my life. I and countless others Love You very much!
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