Finally, a year that I can look back on and say, "Hey, that wasn't so bad." In fact, compared with previous years, 2013 could almost be called stellar.
Because for the first time since 2009, I didn't lose any loved ones, be they two legged or four. No deaths, diseases, or disasters. Biopsies came back negative, paychecks arrived every two weeks, and I found myself smiling a genuine smile again--inside and out.
Nice.
Here's hoping 2014 is just as uneventful. I no longer care about losing weight, winning the lottery, or finding Mr. Right. Exercise keeps me fit, I make enough money to keep a roof over my head, and if I need someone to gaze upon me with adoring eyes, I've got my lovely little tiger, Olivia.
May you be just as blessed. Happy New Year!
"With a dog in your life, Christmas is going to be that much better."
~Author unknown
Wishing a very Merry Christmas to all my friends, be they two-legged or four.
Love, Eileen and Olivia the Greyhound
So there I was at Macy's yesterday, shopping for my "Secret Santa" office gift exchange, when a sales clerk approached me.
"Excuse me," she said. "Are you Gladys' daughter?"
I glanced at her name tag and instantly recognized the name. Prior to my mom's death in 2009, she had been a sales clerk at Macy's, a job she continued long after she was ready to retire, partly -- I suspected--because she and her colleagues had too much fun on the job. She talked about her friends often, especially Rahima, the woman before me.
I had never met Rahima, but she must have recognized me from my occasional store visits. She told me how much she missed my mother and the good times they shared. She asked, "Gladys had a dog named Sabrina, right?"
I wondered why she would remember such a minor detail, but confirmed that yes, my mom's German Shepherd had been named Sabrina.
"Your mother always got confused and called me Sabrina because our names sounded alike," she explained, smiling as she dabbed at eyes that were welling with tears. "Oh how that woman made me laugh. I miss her so much."
This reminded me of a similar incident that took place just a couple months ago. I was in a crosswalk with my greyhound Olivia when a passing car suddenly swung a U-turn and parked along the curb I was approaching. The woman jumped out of the sedan and said, "You're Gladys' daughter, right?"
Uh, yes?
"I'm Julie, her hairdresser. I recognize you from the photos your mom would share with me and remember you have greyhounds," she explained, petting Olivia. She went on to say how shocked and sorry she had been to learn of my mom's sudden passing. "She was my favorite client," she said, hugging me as she started tearing up. "My God, that woman made me laugh. I can't tell you how much I miss her."
Friday would have been Mom's 78th birthday and I've been thinking of her even more than usual. Missing her, but comforted by these two chance encounters. They reminded me of the wonderful legacy my mom has left behind--a legacy of laughter and love.
We should all do so well. Happy birthday, Mom.
