Angels again

OK, Mim reminded me that I had not mentioned another angel who would probably be attending the gymnastics meet, our Lillie. She was definitely there; she's always looking after "her girls". I thought this would be a good time to introduce you to Lillie Walker, who next to our parents, taught us Hall girls many valuable life lessons.

We moved to Eustis when I was 3 years old, and Mama was very pregnant with Miriam. We moved into a house right next door to Dr. Debo, who became our family doctor and introduced Lillie into our lives. She was, for lack of a better word, our "Nanny". Mama carried Miriam into the 11th month of her pregnancy, and Lillie took care of Margaret and me, and then later, Miriam, when Mama returned to help Daddy with the nursery business.

Lillie was "colored"...she insisted on that term, even when the world became "enlightened", and the "word" became black. "It took me a long time to not be a "N....." and be "colored", I don't need no more changes." Lillie was born on a plantation in Tallahassee, and was never formally educated. But that lady knew that a "N....." was not just black, she used that term on black and white folks alike. Anyone that received one of her notes, though the spelling was not up to par, valued it for the love it contained.

Some lessons:
1. When you go out to pick your "switch", there are some decisions to be made...the little skinny ones, stung like the dickens, but the big ones could leave a lingering pain..maybe 30 seconds or so. Funny, I cannot remember the "switchin", but I DO remember the decision making on the "switch".
2. If you get an invitation to a party, and you weren't invited, at first, but only after the other little girl couldn't make it...you do not go. "You are nobody's second choice."
3. When a restaurant makes one of the family eat in the kitchen, you better believe that the younger members of the family cannot understand the "prejudices" and "rules" of the day. You might just lose a customer, or worse still, have to deal with a screamin' youngun', who is completely dependent on that wet dishrag that Lillie so lovingly supplied after every meal. Nope....even the whitest, fanciest, cloth napkin could not replace the love from her hands.
4. Santa Claus will NOT come while you are still awake!

Lillie, along with Mama and Daddy, taught us all so much, during times that prejudice and hatred ran rampant. There were separate drinking fountains, racist sheriffs, back doors and separate waiting areas for the doctors' offices, "invitations" from the KKK, ad nauseum, ad nauseum.....

We three Hall girls grew up learning respect and love for our Lord and our fellow men and women, regardless of race, or any other labeling system, the world threw out. We were "poor" in material things, but rich in love; no one was "better" than us AND we were "better" than no one else; nothing was more important than giving and receiving love..... just check your selfish, ornery, attitudes at the front door OR be ready to "Pick out your switch"!