10/03/2024
Had a beautiful interaction yesterday with a neighbor while out on a job that reminded me why you have to carry yourself with an open mind and an open heart that’s ready and willing to just stop and engage with a stranger even when your hustling to just get the job done. Ms. Bentley caught me walking back to my truck for the 18th time as this particular install was giving me the fits, hands full of tools and parts, all I wanted to do was get done and get home. She had other plans.
I grew up in Goose Creek SC next to two amazing ladies. Ms. Adel and Ms. Johnson, both of whom became 2nd mamas to us kids.
Ms. Adel was a crabby but sweet lady from Germany that came over after the war and made sure all us kids minded our Ps&Qs.
Ms. Johnson was the strong willed, sweetest southern black woman you’d ever met. She had a turtle rescue in the back yard, house full of cultural relics and decorations, never wore shoes unless she had to go to the store in which she wore her house slippers. She made sure that all us kids in the neighborhood felt loved and looked after but would whoop ya if it was needed. Just her presence alone made you feel like you were one of the grand babies that got smothered in spoils, that’s Ms. Bentley.
I was walking back from the truck, hands loaded down when I saw Ms. Bentley out on her porch looking over at the house in which I was working on. A simple good afternoon, how are you and an apology for hogging the road with my truck and trailer. I figured that was that and went on my way.
On one of my 18 trips back to the truck Ms. Bentley was back out but this time right at her gate. She asked me if I did Furnace work and of course I said that’s what I do! She goes on to tell me that the gentleman that used to do her work has since passed away, you could tell she was very upset about his passing like her and the furnace man were great friends. I gave her my condolences for her lose and she continued to tell me about trust. That you don’t want just any old person in your home and how trusting someone to do right and be honest is difficult these days. How her family was the first black family in the neighborhood and how she loves seeing the houses being restored and folks coming back, making it a neighborhood again. She then asked if I had a card, of course I didn’t because I was ill prepared. I told her I would right down my information and get it to her before I headed out.
3 hours later, looking like a run down dog, I finally got finished and figured Ms. Bentley had locked the gate and carried on with her day. Nope! Gate was open and she was waiting for me to give her my contact information. She opened the door and just like Ms. Johnson always made you feel, she said Thank ya Honey, I’ll be calling you!
A simple good afternoon, a 2 minute interaction in passing changed my entire mindset. Ms. Bentley reminded me of Ms. Johnson. I am crossing my fingers Ms. Bentley calls, not that I want her heater to go out or her AC to quit working, I’d just like nothing more than to be friends with Ms. Bentley, I imagine Ms. Johnson is up in heaven right now smiling and grinning from ear to ear saying “I see you’ve met my soul sister”.
A simple and small conversation with a stranger reminded me the joy and love I felt as a wild little boy in South Carolina being loved to death by the sweetest southern black woman you’ve ever met.
Carry yourself with kindness in your heart, respect on your sleeve and the willingness to stop and be in the moment. You never know when a blessing with walk out and touch your soul.
