Growing up I had two very special people in my life...
One was my mother... and the other was this beautiful woman below.
Her name is Marion Lewis ...
and by all accounts I considered her my 2nd mother as well as my "adopted" grandmother.
I referred to her as "Mrs. Lewis" & she referred to me as "Grumpy"
Haha!!
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Mrs. Lewis was brought into out lives, when I was just a baby.
She provided day care for all of us kids - me, my brother & sister (as well as other children).
I vividly remember spending so much of my young childhood at her home. Playing with the other kids, the Lincoln Logs & pretty much anything else I could get my hands on.
I remember her little spoon collection and the bronze ducks that adorned the living room walls.
I still recall her giving us empty syringe's (no needle of course!) and we would fill them up w/ water & squirt one another!
In her house she had this knickknack - A rose inside of a water filled glass globe.
I remember spending so much time staring at that rose! I was always in awe of it's beauty!
When she died, I told her son how much I loved this rose and at the funeral he gave it to me.
It now sits inside a little cabinet in my living room. It's one of my prize possessions, not just because of my childhood memories, but because it belonged to her....
I'll never forget her beautiful daughter Paula, who had a mental handicap, but never seemed different to me. I remember hearing that Paula (who was in her teens) had an 8 yr old mentality... and for me being the youngest in the house, she seemed very mature & wise!
Paula was always having fun and was usually the queen of syringe squirting! I still remember Paula's High School dance picture, so neatly framed on the living room side table.
Paula died young (in her late teens?) by an untimely accident. I don't remember being told she died... I just know that one day she was no longer there.
Although I had only known Paula for a short time, I still considered her a "sister" as well as someone who greatly impacted my life. Her short time on Earth, taught me (and I am sure many others) to be compassionate to those with mental disabilities and to never make fun of kids that were different in anyway.
As for Mrs. Lewis....
My fondest memory is sitting on her lap and feeling so safe and loved.
She was cushy and soft and had a great lap to sit on!!
We were so lucky to have her in our lives.
She was good to all of us kids and I am sure a savior to my mom.
She was one of the most beautiful, wonderful, kind human beings that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was truly special and is sorely missed.
It's now been 10 years (to the day) since her death and I can barely type this without constantly wiping away the flowing tears.
Mrs. Lewis... this blog is dedicated to you...
to your life...
to the wonderful person you were ...
and to those who were lucky enough to know you.
I Love You and Miss You Always...
Marion Lewis
July 11th - August 20th
