Corkscrews On The Top Of Her Head!

We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads are equal in value no matter what their color.    ~Maya Angelou

 

Many years ago, I became intrigued by a young woman.  We were both in attendance of our husbands' softball games.  Week after week, I would watch her ... always alone, dressed very casually in jeans with a random top, large round glasses, and very long natural curly hair with random corkscews sticking out of the crown of her head.

My curiosity overcame my sense of rudeness for invading her private space on her red wool plaid blanket spread over the grass.  As she appeared to be somewhat of a recluse I was amazed when she openly welcomed me to sit awhile.

In no time at all, Kath Ann became and remained one of my dearest friends.  We had little in common except our own individual uniqueness, but we bonded like forever friends.  

Kath Ann was newly married and still basking in the delights of creating a new nest.  I had been married for several years with two little boys in tow.  She came to my home often and we would share books, both avid readers.  She told me how she 'threw clay' and loved being a potter.  (This explained the few corkscrews on the crown of her head ... her long hair had frequently been caught in the clay with the wheel turning!)  She, too, had been in the field of social services.

In spite of growing as close as women can, I was unable to tell her of my failing marriage, my overwhelming sense of failure, guilt and shame.  My parenting skills were slipping, my focus was evaporating, and I longed to be invisible.  Within months, everything came crashing down.

When I told Kath Ann I would be moving within days, she was shocked and hurt.  She said she had known something was wrong, but didn't want to be invasive.  We vowed to remain friends.

Time passed and we both moved to different locations.  She furthered her education and moved to a California University to be an interpreter for foreign students.  She, too, divorced and I never saw her again.  She died at a very young age of breast cancer.

Kath Ann will remain my forever friend.  I treasure the years we shared together and I will never let her memory fade.  I still love those big round glasses and crazy corkscrews on the top of her head!