My personal narrative is rooted firmly in the kindness of other people. Several experiences lately have reminded me how true this is. It’s not just a recent phenomenon, but a lifelong pattern. For me, it goes back to when I was six.

The roots of the pattern were planted in the Styer house. The Styers lived next door when I was growing up. There were four children, two of whom were within a year or so of me. I spent a lot of time over their house, and they were all incredibly kind to me, welcoming me into their home on hundreds of occasions.

They were like a second family, and Mrs. Styer was the epicenter of this experience. She treated me more like her own child than someone else’s, and she coaxed the same kiss from me to get a treat that she coaxed out of her own kids. For most of my childhood, her house was like my home away from home, and she was my mom away from mom.

I can’t picture my life without people like Mrs. Styer. She hasn’t been the only angel to grace my life, but she is the first I can remember. Like so many others, she saw something in me I couldn’t see in myself. That faith, that sort of kindness, has made all the difference.
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This entry in the secondhand series is the second offering from Ellen. A couple weeks ago, she bade farewell to Sam, one of her two beloved felines. She sent along this haiku memorial for the dearly departed.

You can view the entire secondhand series here. To find out how to contribute a haiku or short poem of your own, click here.

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