Godspeed, My Sister Friend
Dear Mike and Mimi:
When you called last week to tell me about this day, unbidden, these lyrics lifted from the recess of stored memory:
"You're once, twice
Three times a lady
Yes, you're once, twice
Three times a lady
And I love you."
Thus, when you asked me if as one of the sisters from Jamie's family and me from Jimmie's; I felt honored, Mike and Mimi. My next response reflexively mirrored the sentiment that Lionel Richie and the Commodores memorialized.
Jamesena Hall Taylor, ever known as "Jamie," gives as a lady and gentlewoman, for the two descriptors aren't mutually exclusive. Rare, I acknowledge, when used to describe one person, as if we live in a bifurcated, "either-or" universe. The prevailing wisdom seemed to mandate that you could be one, not both. Well, Jamie defied that axiom, for she walked and talked, lived and loved, laughed and cried as both and more. Much more.
Jamie was also prim and precise. Jimmie's family was in awe of her enunciation prowess, even in everyday speech. It wasn't that Jamie didn't understand everyday vernacular, slang, and all; it's just that not a syllable of a term or phrase ever eluded pronunciation. And she didn't sound contrived, "prissy," or "proper," you just left the conversation armed with every consonant and vowel having received its just due.
Nor can I ever recall a time, casually or formally, when Jamie presented herself with a hair ut of place, even on windswept Colorado days, or with the bow of a blouse set askew. They didn't dare! Notice, I said that Jamie was prim and precise, not to be confused with a "Miss Goody Two-Shoes." She had a robust laugh and an ear for the double entendre. In fact, Jamie was great fun to be with!
Jamie introduced me to Dr. Pepper one chilly Colorado night, from a can or bottle but perfectly warmed .n matching cup and saucer, with a thin slice of lemon floating on top. Different. Soothing, Good. Yummo," I believe Rachel Ray would have pronounced.
I became a teacher because I watched and emulated and learned from a consummate educator. Everything about Jamie oozed professionalism, from her bulletin boards, always colorful and topical, to every aspect of the learning progress, telegraphing meaning and intent. A first-grade teacher when we met, Jamie introduced a great big world to eager learners, beginning with "Run, Dicjk, Run" primers to a range of beginners' books, new vocabulary, and challenging concepts.
How did she do it? Why had teaching become her mission?
I've thought long and hard about Jamie's unfailing success and, thankfully understood the miracles of such mastery. Jamie loved her students. She loved watching butterflies emerge from cocoons. Eager voices stimulated her. Simply, it was love, only love. The Agape love of our Father God opened her heart and suffused it with the love with which she immersed her students. Love. Pure love. Love defined, shaped, and sculpted Jamesena Hall Taylor.
So I merely echo Lionel Richie and the Commodores as I remember Jamie, sister to sister.
When we were together
The moments I cherished
.jpeg)
Comments
Post a Comment