Last weekend I had the chance to babysit my granddaughter overnight. When I do that, we have a special sleepover in Grandma's bed. We have a special pillowcase that we use on her pillow, embroidered with flowers by her great-great grandmother years ago. And even when the summer evenings bring bedtime before the sun sets, when my room is not dark at all, we have to use Grandma's special night light. This night light comes from another great-great grandmother, who left this world 24 years ago.
My Grandma Vincent was a very special lady. Born in 1905, Grandma Vincent would share stories of teaching in a one room school house, and would do up my hair in 1920's pin curls. She would host tea parties, and patiently watch our amateur variety shows that my brothers and I would perform in our living room. I told her all my secrets. She was everything that was loving and gentle and graceful. I want to be a grandma like her.
Grandma was also a writer of poetry. Sweet and silly little tales of her childhood memories, of day to day life, or poems she would give as a gift at a niece's wedding shower, or to welcome a new baby. I put all the poems together into a book after she passed, and gave them to family members for remembrance.
One of these poems is about her friend Chloe, whom she met on a flight back from California.
My Friend Chloe!
February 3 1979
They say, "Don't talk to strangers!"
But that isn't good advice
For it's my guess,
that you will miss
Meeting someone nice.
That's not just a speculation
And I'm the one who should know
On returning from my vacation,
I met my dear friend Chlo!
We started to talk and she told me
She was coming to my hometown
Where she was a total stranger
And feeling a little "down".
Her daughter had married and gone away
Just as mine did way back when...
And I knew how her heart was yearning
To see her dear daughter again.
So I got to know her better
And found her sweet and kind
So don't be afraid of strangers
There's some wonderful ones to find!
When I was a child, and had sleepovers at Grandma Vincent's little studio apartment, she always lit the special dove night light, the gift from "dear Chloe". A lady I never met, but was my Grandmother's friend.
At some point in time, when Grandma knew she was getting older and may not be able to be on her own much longer, she gave the night light to my mother, who had always admired it. Grandma said, "it will make me happy to see you enjoying it, even more than me keeping it myself."
And now, my mother gave it to me, so that I can enjoy it with my granddaughter. She calls it "my special light". And I know that Grandma Vincent is smiling at us, because a little gift from her dear friend, is now being loved by a fifth generation.
And I am reminded, that being kind and gracious can give you some of the most precious things.
