Perspective

Friday, as workers are installing the new French doors, HDTV, and cable boxes, we get the call: Clyde’s grandmother, the Grande Dame of the Parks family, has passed away.

I loved Erin; she was always very kind to and accepting of me.

In fact, not long after I met her, she took me aside and said, “There’s something I want to say to you.”

Given the situation, I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Okay…”

She leaned in close and lowered her voice. “While you’re young go ahead and do whatever you want to do … because when you get old, they won’t let you do it!”

For as long as I’ve known Clyde, every visit to New Albany has included a stop at Mama Erin’s house. Late into her nineties, she has always been spry, aware, and feisty. Well-traveled and highly opinionated, she was a strong woman. We should all live so well.

With her departure, our July Fourths, Easters, Christmases, and other visits will never be the same.

I’ll miss her.