#Live Like Shirley

February 11, 2018 at 7p.m. My aunt went home to glory. She wasn't alone. We were there when she took her last breath. Throughout that Sunday there was a stream of visitors. Some had tears, some gave her hugs, some told funny stories, but all said thank you to Shirley Estelle Caldwell Blanton. In her lifetime she had been an emergency nurse, a neurology instructor in the nursing department and a public health nurse. She did a lot of volunteer work, and she belonged to the Delta sorority. She loved the color orange and she loved life. The thing that struck me the most, though, was that as she reluctantly moved into an independent living facility, she became determined to live, love and laugh while she was there. She had no idea of the difference she would make while she was living at Francis Asbury Manor.

As we sat with her, we learned that Aunt Shirley knew the names of all the nurses and of all the employees from the cafeteria staff to the activities director. She knew their children's names and their interests. her neighbors were happy to see her come into the dining room, or to join any activity with them. As we sat with her during her last day, we welcomed each member of the staff into her room when they came by, and we beckoned to each neighbor who had come to see how she was doing, to come in. Each person mentioned how much joy she brought into the facility and how special she was to each one of them. Some of them told short stories of the fun they had together, or the laughs they had during dinner or a walk down the hall. We began to realize that it wasn't a time of sorrow, but a time of joy. Even though we would miss her, we, too had memories of her cheerful greetings, her smile, her giggle and her zest for life. I'm telling this story because it struck me that we don't have to start big businesses, or join every protest or march to make a difference in the lives of others. We don't have to be a million dollar book author, or a famous singer to make a difference. We don't have to be a hero like the firemen, doctors, policemen and military men and women in order to make a difference. All we have to do is be ourselves, love our neighbors as ourselves, consider other people as more important than ourselves, offer kind words, smiles, comfort, and laughter when they are most needed. Those are the things that last. Those are the things that will live on in the hearts of others. Those gestures of kindness are free, but are priceless in value to those who need them and even to those who don't know that they need a hug, a smile, some encouragement, or a great conversation. I'm proud that Shirley Estelle Caldwell Blanton is my aunt, and I'd like to encourage us all to Live like we love our neighbors, to Laugh instead of griping, to Love whenever and where ever we can. #Let's Live Like Shirley.