As I have written before, I worked at my parent's pharmacy while growing up. It was in a small community. I learned so much working there. I had the pleasure of forming great relationships. One relationship was with a customer named Miss Annie Mae.
Up until I started driving and making deliveries to customers at their homes, I worked the register. Miss Annie Mae was older and didn't drive. A family member would bring her in several times a month to pick up prescriptions or over-the-counter items.
Once I started driving, I would make deliveries to Miss Annie Mae's home. It was small and humble, and covered in the same type of asphalt shingles that my grandparents' home was covered in. Miss Annie Mae was a widow. At least one of her grown children lived close by to help care for her.
My Pop (who was the pharmacist and my step-father) remembered a time when Miss Annie Mae would bring him homemade treats. Her dinner rolls, he said, were some of the best he had ever eaten.
She was a quiet woman of few words, however, she had a slight speech impairment. So when she did speak, you had to pay close attention to her words. I recall her saying "Otay, honey" a lot. During her twilight years, I made frequent deliveries to her as her health declined. We had a lovely relationship. I especially remember how precious it was for her to show me her recent clothing purchases. Dresses for a grandchild's wedding or for Sunday church were her favorites to have me oh and ahh over.
I was just a teen but knew, thanks to my mother, how important some attention to those who spent most of their time alone was. Miss Annie Mae would always give me candy, peppermints, butterscotch, or hard strawberry candies. I learned quickly to politely accept it and tell her I would eat it later after nearly losing a molar to an old and overly chewy piece of candy once.
Sometimes Miss Annie Mae would want to discuss current events or watch T.V. together. If I knew I could spare the time, I would try and visit with her for a spell. She occasionally would ask me to do a small chore, life fetch the mail or empty the trash for her.
My Pop, being one of the best business owners at customer service, once agreed to send me to Miss Annie Mae's home to relight the pilot light on her stove/oven. I was very concerned I might blow up her house if I did something wrong, so I asked for detailed instructions from Pop.
I was greeted with an enthusiastic "Hay-whoa Honey" from Miss Annie Mae. She walked me into her kitchen and gave me a box of matches. I had brought a lighter from the store and had to carefully consider the best tool to use. I settled on the lighter.
I didn't realize until I was down on all fours on the floor that Miss Annie Mae's floor was dirty and greasy. I felt the grease soak though the knees of my pants as I maneuvered into position. I successfully got the pilot light relighted. However, I was in a predicament. I couldn't get off the floor. I was a bit stuck in the grease! Trying not to make a big deal about it, I squirmed myself off the floor.
Sweet Miss Annie Mae was so thankful. I got a few extra candies that day!
What a kind woman she was. I am so thankful for knowing her.
No comments:
Post a Comment