This Thursday I would like to honor a woman who has been like a second mom to me, Victoria Stein. When I fell in love with her son over twenty years ago, I remember her kind and warm presence always making me feel invited into a secret club, one that gained me admission to the heart of more than just her son. As I reflect back over the welcome I received as I entered their home time and time again, my memories are filled with warm coffee and cheery conversations, pecan clusters and peach iced tea alongside long goodbyes sprinkled with just one more story about relatives in another era. I was falling in love with the warmth that visibly emanated from one family member to the next, as they talked about whether Mark was going to continue in the choir at school and whether we should watch the movie we rented or go to the theatre. Throughout it all, I was mystified at how freely the conversation flowed and how much energy his mother brought to the conversation with an abundance of smiles that matched her endless supply of compliments about the way I wore my hair or how pretty the color of my shirt was. I got to learn that the only way to avoid going home with something was to keep from saying how much I liked it, as I was sent with a set of beautiful El Salvadorean refrigerator magnets and more momentos than I can remember by extending my own compliments on their style. Vickie accepted my feeble Spanish as she accepted me; with unconditional love and support. I will always remember how, during a conversation with her mother and assorted relatives, I was so proud of myself when I inserted a sentence into their conversation, only to realize that we were not talking about flowers. Their patience with my understanding of a culture that I had never known, as well as a language that I had only studied in high school, was further evidence of the relationships that were forged with respect and unity in their immediate and extended family. I also remember how appreciative my own mom was when her Uncle Jorge invited us all to dinner and entertained us with his own family stories and anecdotes. This is something that she talks about from time to time with fond remembrance and a visible awareness of the generosity that extended in this family from one generation to the next. When someone is truly a genuine human being, it is hard to put into words how special that person is or how much that they have touched your heart. In you, Vickie, I have witnessed honesty, strength, compassion, and a dedication to your family that have conveyed more lessons to me than years of university study could impart. Please accept my deepest admiration for your consistency of presence and wealth of personality. If we could all be like you, the world would shine with grace and wisdom, beauty and joy. Thank you for your laughter, love, and for bringing so much authenticity to my life!
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AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
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