Chapter 2

There are people we all meet in our lives that play roles in what we believe and how we achieve by watching their strength or their patience. I had someone quite unusual in my life as a kid. My mom took care of her aunt who was born at birth deformed. I grew up with her being a part of our everyday life. She was born in Kentucky also and unfortunately born with no legs, one arm to the elbow and the other hand with only three fingers. I can still see her today in my thoughts like yesterday. She had an old cane bottom chair that she as a child learned to walk around by rocking it back and forth. She did not let her handicap stall her or make her give up on things she enjoyed.

Aunt Mary Jane was such a gem of a lady who was caring and funny. She could sew anything just by looking at a picture in a book. She would make me fancy dresses that I would wear and feel like a princess in. She would make doll clothes and help with the housework too. She never hesitated to reprimand me when needed or encourage me.

At the age of ten I would push her around in her wheelchair uptown. Here she would sit holding a tin cup. People would walk by and drop coins in and sometimes dollars. I would sit beside her and wonder why someone didn't come along and really make a difference in her life. I was just a kid who took all this in and was filled with wishes. Her and my mom would buy a box of chocolates and watch soap operas. They enjoyed each others company a great deal and it was full of laughter and ideas. Both these women were great examples of courage and honesty.  

  One afternoon I pushed Jane uptown and we sat on the corner on Main Street of my hometown. A storm began to brew up and the sky turned a deep gray, almost black. Jane said, " We better hurry home for this storm looks like it might be really bad!" I became scared. We didn't live far from town, only about 6 blocks and I had walked uptown several times alone. I would usually cut through the alley and save time. So, I told Jane that I knew a short cut and she said ok and to hurry. Well, at such a young age and very frightened of the weather as the wind began to blow hard and the rain grew closer. I begin to walk faster and turned down the alley. Thunder could now be heard as the rain began to fall. About two blocks from home I hit a pothole and dumped her out into a small puddle.  I can still hear her ... she was mad and I felt awful. :(  I tried to lift her to put her back in the seat which was an impossible desire and that only made her madder.  I think we were both scared now.  Suddenly a man came from nowhere and came over and helped her and we continued on.  But, she drove. :-)  Once we were home safe she laughed about it with my mother in the wee hours of the night.

My Aunt was a giver and had such a beautiful smile.  To grow up watching someone dress, and do the simple tasks we take for granted was an inspiration of strength, courage and full of passion for life.  She had turned down a offer of marriage once and I never knew why for to me she had so much to offer.

She died of colon cancer and I remember hearing her cries of pain and suffering.  At that time I was not old enough to go in to see her in her hospital room as she lay dying and asking for me. :(  But she was never forgotten.

©belladora

Guestbook by Lpage    View My Guestbook

Back to Main Site