HELEN


on saturday i walked into helen's living room and ate lunch. actually it wasn't helen's it was panera. oh and actually, it wasn't a real living room either. it was a long couch and two cushy arm chairs situated in front of a fireplace in the crowded corner of panera bread company (they have my favorite soup/sandwich combo... tuscan chicken-- no tomato and cheesy broccoli soup... yummy to my tummy).

it was busy, it being a saturday and also... tis the season to stand in lines, lines and more lines (which i did all day on sat.). those of you who have been to panera know that it can get rather crowded rather quickly and by the time i went to sit and eat, the place was packed. but off to my left i saw the couch space open... it looked really inviting and the only other person sitting there was a little old woman on the other side of the long couch and i would be far enough away to not really be in her "space."

i sat and readied myself for my tasty delights, when all of a sudden i look up and see the little old lady flagging me down.

"welcome to my living room." she called out
"oh." a startled me looked at her and smiled. "thank you... it's beautiful."
she nodded and then i continued to stuff my face. a few minutes later-- mid bite-- she asks another question. i couldn't hear her. so i got up, toted all of my lunch stuff over and sat down to eat my lunch with helen... in her living room.

i was there for 1 1/2 hours. i soaked up all of the grandmotherly love that helen was dishing out. she was spunky, witty and this 88 year old, retired hair stylist made my whole day. she told me about life... she was born in 1918... MAN the things she has seen! she told me about love and how her husband of 56 years treated her like a queen and told me never to settle for anything less. we laughed, shared stories and compared nail polish colors. helen doesn't have much to do these days and so just about every day she carts herself over to the panera (where she and her husband, when he was alive, used to frequent)... she talks to strangers and makes friends.

time stood still as i recognized that everyone else was rushing about their day trying to get a quick bite, then off to the next sale. helen made me realize that too often we run around ignoring other people... most of the time, we're just too busy.

but, if you ever are in need of a quick live-and-in-person grandmother or are just in the mood for a great conversation, helen is your gal... and believe me... she's good for it.

one day you should find yourself out in framingham, on route 30 and see the panera next to the target... you should stop in for a bite and say hello to helen. she's the spunky little lady sitting in front of the fireplace with a huge smile on her face and coffee in hand!