I, too, had a mentor in the form of my Aunt Belle. My father’s sister. Aunt Belle lived in California while I was a New York dweller.
My Aunt took a great interest in me, especially when I was in college having a pretty rough period at one point. I had a few other relatives but they never, it appeared, gave me a second thought.
My Aunt Belle regularly called me and wrote to me and did everything in her power to let me know that she was there for me, rooting for me, and sharing the painfully raw emotions of her 18 year old nephew.
I remember one particular call she made to me where she sounded much the opposite of her usual, upbeat self. She assured me that she was fine, just tired. I did not learn until after the call, and into the next day, that her husband had been shot to death in a store holdup the day before her call to me.
Despite her overwhelming grief, she thought of me.And she acted upon that thought.
How does God make people such as this? Surely they cannot be formed from the same clay as most of us.
Glenn’s Nana, Essie, and his Uncle, Jack, and his adopted Grandmother Pearl, seem to have been such people as well.
People who put undying love for others before self consideration.
There is a quote “He who sees a need and waits to be asked for help is as unkind as if he had refused it.- Dante
to that I add:
Hug someone who needs a hug – before it is too late. Tell someone deserving of it that you love them – before it is too late.
Cherish the existence of those you love – before it is too late.
It has also been said, By Irving Berlin: “The song has ended but the melody lingers on.”
The melody of the life of Nana Essie, Uncle Jack, Grandmother Pearl, and of my Aunt, Belle will certainly linger on forever.
Who's The Grandparent (or Wise Mentor) Of Your Dreams?
August 5th, 2010 at 3:13 amI, too, had a mentor in the form of my Aunt Belle. My father’s sister. Aunt Belle lived in California while I was a New York dweller.
My Aunt took a great interest in me, especially when I was in college having a pretty rough period at one point. I had a few other relatives but they never, it appeared, gave me a second thought.
My Aunt Belle regularly called me and wrote to me and did everything in her power to let me know that she was there for me, rooting for me, and sharing the painfully raw emotions of her 18 year old nephew.
I remember one particular call she made to me where she sounded much the opposite of her usual, upbeat self. She assured me that she was fine, just tired. I did not learn until after the call, and into the next day, that her husband had been shot to death in a store holdup the day before her call to me.
Despite her overwhelming grief, she thought of me.And she acted upon that thought.
How does God make people such as this? Surely they cannot be formed from the same clay as most of us.
Glenn’s Nana, Essie, and his Uncle, Jack, and his adopted Grandmother Pearl, seem to have been such people as well.
People who put undying love for others before self consideration.
There is a quote “He who sees a need and waits to be asked for help is as unkind as if he had refused it.- Dante
to that I add:
Hug someone who needs a hug – before it is too late. Tell someone deserving of it that you love them – before it is too late.
Cherish the existence of those you love – before it is too late.
It has also been said, By Irving Berlin: “The song has ended but the melody lingers on.”
The melody of the life of Nana Essie, Uncle Jack, Grandmother Pearl, and of my Aunt, Belle will certainly linger on forever.