Ms. Evelyn

  Isn't it funny how something as simple as a ribbon can trigger a memory and then a flood of feelings follow?  Hanging on our Christmas Tree are several handmade ornaments that were given to me years ago. These are nothing more than a few pieces of ribbon tied together with a button glued in the middle.  They are supposed to resemble poinsettias.  As an handcrafted item, they are nothing special..as a memory, they are everything. 

  Back when my kids were small, I did a lot of volunteering at their school.  Mostly, I did arts and crafts with the kids but I, also, decorated their classrooms for different events or parties.  It was fun and kept me in close contact with their teachers.  Not many parents wanted the extra work that was involved in being "Class Mom" but I loved it.  With my youngest son's classroom, I had a helper.  She was the grandmother of a little girl in the same grade.  Ms. Evelyn and I got along famously and could work together without ever a hitch.  She was highly creative and never shied away from any projects.  In fact, she instigated a good many of the fun times that we provided for the children.  

  Each year, Ms. Evelyn and I would exchange a small gift at Christmastime.  Always, these gifts were homemade!  What else could be expected?  I cherished each just as I know that she did.  Good friends are just that way. 

  Well, as they have a habit of doing, the kids grew into adults and Ms. Evelyn and I did not have classrooms to decorate.  We still kept in touch with each other until that fateful day when Hurricane Katrina hit.  With no method of communications at hand, we had no way of contacting each other.  Her house took a direct hit.  She and her husband headed to Texas to live with their son for a while.  I had no idea at the time and with all the confusion that major storms leave in their wake, I never even thought of the outside world.  

  It was not until years afterwards that I discovered that my dear friend had passed from this world.  I felt a whole rush of emotions.  It was hard. Just weeks later as I was decorating the Little Bayou House for Christmas, I came across the ribbon ornaments.  Wow!  These things were always special but  now they took on a whole new meaning.  They were our friendship all tied up in ribbon.  I still cherish the poinsettias and hang them on the tree.  I still cherish the memory of Ms. Evelyn. Some friendships last forever.