Some of you know that I've adopted a nice woman at my work. Her name is Iris and she's one of the coolest and funniest women I know. I think part of it is that she reminds me of me in some ways. Like she speaks her mind (good or bad) and she loves pugs. She owns 2, Jacob and Leah, adorable pugs. Jacob is sitting on her lap in the picture above.
When I started to work at my job I'd heard of Iris from some people who knew I love pugs. Well, one day I met her daughter who had been out walking the 2 pugs while the residents were quarantined from a yucky virus going around. I'd told her I really loved pugs and if her mom needed me to I'd love to walk them. A month later I finally met Iris and we hit it off.
Iris is always wondering why I'd want to spend time with her. She always attributes it to her pugs but just like the pugs she's just a cute and quirky lady. Her and her husband seem to have an amazing relationship and a true love of one another.
One day Iris told me that her husband, Homer, was the love of her life and how they went everywhere they could together. When he was in the military they would write each other everyday. How she loved him so much and he loved her too. She told me that when he was dying their grandkids came in to see him and it was when he'd started to stop talking. He looked over, smiled, and said, "Aren't they beautiful" then looked at Iris and said, "but she's the most beautiful".
Homer would write her love poems and for their anniversary make her a card. She would show me the poems and say, "I just don't know what to do with them but I don't want to get rid of them. I cherish them so."
Another story she told me was when he was dying and she was sitting with him. She was sitting next to him when he said, "I just thought we'd go together." As she told me this she said, "We did everything together that it was just natural for us both to think this but I told him. ' Well, you go on a head and prepare a place for me and I will be along after.'" Okay, so I have to say I was in tears when she told me this. I can't imagine. . . I pray that my partner in this world is someone that I can't imagine not going into eternity with.
One of the poems that Homer wrote is this:
"Ode to a Dandelion"
Oh, little flower so golden bright,
Symbol of the Sun's great light,
It always seems to me a shame
that all those people curse your name.
Your eagerness to show your bloom,
Even where there is no room,
Is looked up on by some, you see,
As being just a bit "push."
But I suggest you are inspiring;
To me, your beauty never tiring;
But duck your head, here comes the mower!
Oops! To Late! Poor little flower. . .
Fr. Homer
Oh, yeah Homer was a priest for the Evangelical church. I love Iris because you'd never know by how candid she speaks. One day we were sitting there and she said, "Don't EVER get tattoos. Please don't. It's such a shame when young people get tattoos." I laughed to myself. Just smiling and nodding my head. Or when she told me that her daughter was making such a bad mistake not having children and slightly resenting that she and her husband bought a dog instead. I laugh when she talks like this because deep inside Iris is such a loving person who just loves people. And I think misses meeting new people.
She says that Jacob and Leah are who brought me into her life. Maybe but I'm glad we've met and that she's in my life. Teaching me in her own way about love, relationships, and life. I hope I can be like her when I'm 86.
