I worked alongside Esther. She worked for the father, I for the son. Almost 20 years older than me, she was my mentor and confidante. I was a fledgling in commercial insurance with two young daughters and the tug of pulling my load as Tom started up a business. We worked hard, laughed often, cried occasionally and danced the rhythms of life and work for almost six years.
We shared a love of family and of books. She delighted in hearing of the escapades of our daughters, especially Katy, who loved playing softball and disliked wearing dresses. In all the time I worked with Esther, I never saw her in a skirt or dress – and this was the era of padded shoulders and the hit television series, Dallas!
I had the first lunch hour, sometimes eating in the small break room or downstairs in the cafeteria, more often than not running errands or tending to motherly pursuits. Several summers had me driving home, dropping the girls off at the community swimming pool, then eating in the car as I returned to work, checking in with Tom before I got back to my duties (this was before cell phones).
Esther had the second lunch hour, usually eating a sandwich she brought from home and the purchase of a bowl of soup from the cafeteria. Esther ate soup for lunch almost every day. When she returned to her desk, the first thing she did was call her elderly mother to see how her day was going.
Esther, as the story was told to me, once had a prestigious job downtown, in the late ’60s/early ’70s. Her father developed a life-threatening illness needing surgery, a long recovery, treatments – and had no health insurance. Esther resigned from her position, cashed her pension, and used it to pay for her father’s health care, then she started her work life all over again. She never complained, never felt sorry for herself, and carried on.
She gave me comfort and encouragement in those six years; when my mother died of cancer only two weeks after being hospitalized, when my uncle Joe died a few months later, Jennifer becoming ill for a spell, then Katy losing part of finger, and Tom’s long battle with his first bout with diabetic retinopathy and his mother passing away. I gave her big hugs, books, home baked goodies and as many doses of encouragement I could while she battled shingles, then cancer and a long series of chemotherapy treatments.
I thought of Esther today, and of the afternoon, not unlike this afternoon, shortly after the 1993 inauguration of Bill Clinton, when she came back from lunch, called her mother, then looked at me and said, “Penny, I want you to read this book I just finished. It is by Maya Angelou. I know you appreciated her inauguration poem and now you must read this book she wrote a long time ago,.”Why the Caged Bird Sings” . . . and so, I did.
I thought of Esther today, as the news broke of the death of Maya Angelou, and felt a wave of gratitude that they both entered my life, each in their own unique way.
As soon as I heard of the death of Maya Angelou, I knew that you would write about her. Thank you for this moving tribute of two great ladies, one of them famous and the other a strong, amazing woman who was there when you needed her. I’m sure that along the way, your Esther was there for many others as well. The world will miss Maya Angelou as you and I will. Both women changed the world for the better.
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How well you know me. Those are such sweet and true words to read, Janet. Thank you.
Esther was a woman I think you would have enjoyed knowing and she was certainly in my life just when I needed her. I know I’ve said it many times, but, I’ve been so blessed to have so many women in my life (including a certain country mouse that has made my life richer and oh-so-much-fun!). Public radio has been running some old interviews of Maya Angelou since the news announced her passing. I heard one yesterday, from the ’70s – Studs Terkel interviewing her here in Chicago. He remains a legend here and it was a fantastic interview.
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Janet’s word, “tribute” is exactly the word I thought of when I read your post, Penny. “Mentor” also comes to mind. It’s amazing the things we can just “see” in our minds’ eye about people who are/were important to us at various times throughout our lives. Your recent post about the “bleeding hearts” was, for me, another much like this one. I love your talent for recalling and sharing about these women who were important to you.
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Karen, you have touched me so sweetly with your words here. It sunny way to start my day. Thank you.
It is amazing, this gift we are given to see in our “minds’ eye”. What a fitting phrase to use. As soon as I heard the news about Maya Angelou, I thought of Esther, and knew I had to share her with all of you.
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Playing catch-up with some reading, Penny. Usually, I don’t feel the need to respond to “responses” to my comments in various places, but someday (I hope) I can take a moment to tell you about what your bleeding hearts post prompted for me. Meantime, it’s a pleasure to be told now and then that something I’ve said or written struck a chord. Thank YOU!
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You are most welcome, Karen. I appreciate you coming back to let me know you were prompted to some sort of action and I will look forward to hearing what transpired. I’m smiling at your return visit. Thank you, Karen.
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Your words brought a tear to my eye, Penny. You’ve mentioned “your” Esther before, as I’ve told you I have my own…and yes, my older friend with whom I have a similar tender love and history is also named Esther. Thank you for sharing just a little bit more about your life, too, my friend. What a difficult and prolonged period of loss and readjustment you went through, and what a difference a kind and sensitive friend can make in our lives. I felt a wave of loss today as I heard of Maya Angelou’s passing. She was a remarkable woman and I read her books a long time ago, but have held onto them to read again some time. I think this is probably the best time to read them again. This is a lovely tribute to your friend, Esther, and a very special poet. ox
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Is Esther the woman you just recently met for a bite to eat? I enjoy this, of many, connections we share, Debra. It was a rough spell, for sure, but, there was Esther to help me through it. Her compassion, understanding, sense of humor – all examples for me to dip into.
Maya Angelou touched a nerve with her words and cadence and messages, didn’t she? For the life of me, I couldn’t find the small, commemorative issue of the poem she wrote for the presidential inauguration in 1993 yesterday. I think that reawakened poetry for the masses – and certainly introduced many to Dr. Angelou. Don’t you love her poem about being a phenomenal woman?
Thank you, Debra.
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This is so moving Penny. You paint such real portraits of those influential people in your life, and Esther is now alive for me. I too heard of the death of Maya Angelou just today, and went online to hear (for the first time) her poem read at Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
Those associations are so strong, aren’t they, when an important person in our life introduces us to something else that is influential. Although I’ve read and heard many of Maya Angelou’s poems, I’ve never read ‘Why the Caged Bird Sings.’ Maybe it’s time now.
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Thank you, Juliet. It is good for me to recall all these folks who have helped me along my way. Esther was the perfect person to have been put in my path during those years – and, her essence has stayed with me all these years. I think she is someone whom you would have enjoyed knowing.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have this technology and you can experience such things as Dr. Angelou reciting her poem in a few clicks of a button? She had been active in the civil rights movement here for so long before that, but, that moment brought awareness of her to so many more people, and, as I mention above to Debra, it brought poetry alive for many.
I would like to encourage you to read “Why the Caged Bird Sings”, Juliet.
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Consider me encouraged! Thank you Penny.
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🙂
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This was a memorable post for me. You tied together a friendship, delicate parts of your past, admiration for Dr. Angelou, and that inaugural speech into something I will remember when I re-read some of those books I’ve had a long time. They were there waiting for me on the shelf. Haven’t we lived in some of the best and worst of times?
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Indeed, Marilyn, we have lived in the best and worst of times. It sometimes boggles my mind when I think of all the world’s events in our lifetime – and now we see horrors immediately on our television screens. I sometimes wonder how history will really look back on these days of our lives.
Thank you, Marilyn, and I hope you will re-read those books.
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A beautiful tribute to two “phenomenal women” . Your work friendship with Esther was special — and it’s obvious that she thought you were a phenomenal woman too!
It made me sad yesterday to read the news about Maya Angelou I immediately ordered “…Caged Bird..” to my Kindle, as it has been many years since I’ve read it (and no longer have a copy). Am sure I’m not the only person doing that.
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Thank you, Sallie. Wasn’t that a terrific poem? Maya Angelou hit a chord in so many woman in that poem – and I do appreciate your saying this. Esther and I enjoyed each other’s friendship, that is for certain.
I’m sure you are right, Sallie, and that ” … Caged Bird” has likely hit record sales today. I stopped at a favorite used book store today, and it was on display. Like you, I would love to reread it now. Either today, or tomorrow, the National Portrait Gallery in DC is unveiling a portrait of her, which was already scheduled to now. I hope I can age as gracefully and determinedly as Maya Angelou.
Hope the weather is friendly there in the northwest. We had a glorious day here.
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Dear Penny, I think this is one of the best postings you’ve ever done on your blog. It is a tapestry of your life threaded with remembrance of those who touched you with generosity of spirit and joy. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely posting. It brings me a sense of contentment and peace. And so I wish you both.
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You are so generous with your kind words here, Dee. Thank you for this lovely gift you give me as I read it today – and I wish you the same, Dee.
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A beautiful post Penny. What women they both were and how beautifully entwined forever in your memory. Jx
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Thank you, Janice. I was fortunate to have Esther in my life for a short time – and Maya Angelou? well, we are better for her words and her examples.
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Wonderful post, Penny. Full of warmth and respect for Esther, and her recommended author. Now I must confess I have never read Maya Angelou. I am off to remedy this!
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Good to see you here this evening here, Kate. Thank you.
Esther remains a treasure in my life.
Maya Angelou was a multi-faceted woman; a singer and poet, memoirists, activist, leader in civil rights. I hope you can discover some of words and poetry.
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What a wonderful tribute to your friend and colleague, Penny and to the great writer whose work she introduced you to. I must re-read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings…
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I think that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will be among the most sought after books this weekend, Perpetua, with many dusting off their own copies. If you have time, I encourage you to read (or, better yet, listen to) the poem she composed and read in 1993. It marked a revived interest in poetry here in the states in ’93, much like Frost’s in 1962.
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I don’t know the exact words, but they are along the lines of no one is really gone as long as someone remembers them. You have brought Esther alive to all your readers. What a good woman.
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With your mention here, I do recall those lines, Nan, and how fitting they are. Thank you. Yes, Esther was a very good women, indeed.
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