Today began with a glance at the Roanoke Times lead story about a mother, a kind woman, a widow young in heart and spirit raising 5 children alone in Catawba Virginia. She is selling the farm she an her late husband started as part of their dream...20 years ago. He died, at 51 of a cardiac illness and so she tried valliantly some would say to stay the course and maintain everything as it was. But now, sadly she leaves the many friends who are now family here to reunite with her aging parents in Texas.
There is a great love the shared among those who know her, a love it seems that was forged by her generous spirit. I have never met Ginger Hillery until I saw her picture today, it was one of her hugging yet another one of her neighbors farewell, but I feel as though we have been introduced and am sad I did not get to meet her personally while she lived among us.
She does have a blog and so I looked it up and loved reading it. She put in a recipe for peaches. A simply one. Slice peaches and pour Blenheim Ginger Ale over them. So today in her honor, I will go purchase this giner ale-(not any ginger ale)...that one, and take it with the peaches I bought at the market Saturday to my friends house up in Montebello Virginia and share this new treat with them. As we eat and smile we will toast her name and she will become a new friend among us, even if she cannot be near.
It makes me wonder how many other wonderful people I passed up in my day to day business. How many people do I already know do I pass over, or forget to remember. I have a friend named Una who has always...ALWAYS replies to letters, sent thank you notes, and never forgets birthday cards. She is consicentious about all things. I have admired this ability that I sorely lack. Actually my handwriting is so bad that most family and friends request that I do not write as it is too confusing. But meeting people who go above a beyond....it is a gift. It gives persons like me a goal....Be kind, be better, be a friend.
