I spoke to the lady who sits on a park bench in out graveyard today. She was walking along in my direction, a red t-shirt that was making its way slowly up her torso, a pair of trousers, a red jacket or cardie slung over one arm and her habitual carrier bag, Waitrose today. In her other hand she was carrying a mug of tea or coffee.
My first thought was I had nothing to give her.
When she arrived at the gate entrance to St. George’s cemetery she had a bit of a jiggle with the lock but gained entrance and shut it just as I was coming up.
My second thought was to give her what I had, a smile and a few kind words.
I decided to say good morning if the opportunity arose.
It did, she looked back and her face lit up beneath her severely short hair cut, and she said,
“Good morning…beautiful day isn’t it?”
To which I replied, smiling,
“Good morning, and yes it is lovely isn’t it?” She turned her back on me and headed down the path.
“Find yourself a nice sunny spot to sit in,” I continued as she made for her favourite bench, which wasn’t in the sun.
“Yes, the sun’s out, the birds are singing, it is beautiful. I am going to enjoy it,” she shouted out to the silent gravestones.
“You do that,” I said as she plonked herself on the bench.
I could hear her continuing with the phrases while I continued to mass.
“Nice day isn’t it? Hello. Good morning…” as if her clockwork needed to run down.
I looked for her when I came out of church and my third thought was to “come to him as you are,” the words that inspired Charlotte Elliott’s famous hymn, Just as I am.
That was you again wasn’t it Lord?
She was gone.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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