Lucy And Rosie

We have been cable free for 6+ years now. For a little while, we've been shopping around for some different no contract cable streaming services. Last night, I signed up for YouTube TV's trial. As soon as I started to explore, I saw TCM (Turner Classic Movies) appear. I got super excited and instantly nostalgic. It wasn't just because we love old television, but because what that channel personally means to me.

Over 10 years ago I worked as a CNA at an adult day program. The seniors would come into the center each morning and spend the day doing crafts, socializing, enjoying a hot meal, receiving personal care, as well as medical care. It was an alternative to a nursing home for many and got them out of the house.

A little after I started there, I got offered the opportunity to make a little extra money. It was some before program home care with one of the female participants. Her name was Lucy, and she was a cute petite Hungarian woman in her late 70's. I must admit, I was a bit nervous at first. This would be my first home care experience. Till then, I had only worked facilities. Despite my terror of the unknown, I showed up at her door and my life was never the same.

Lucy was a very particular woman. She had a way she liked it done and that's the way you needed to do it. No problem. Your house your rules. After the morning routine was completed, we'd sit and she'd turn on TCM. For a while we didn't say much and just watched the screen. Nevertheless the more I came there every morning, the more our friendship formed with TCM playing in the background. Lucy would often tease me asking "Why no babies yet?!" I would always chuckle and respond, "It's not time yet." She also could never remember to call me Rena, so she affectionately renamed me Rosie. She'd ask me about my life; my marriage, past jobs, and interests. Sometimes she'd show me old pictures and tell me who each person was. Then ever so often she would share a very personal part of her past.

One such time, I've never forgotten. Lucy was still in her country in what was leading up to WWII. She was just a little girl at the time. She talked about the Nazi's and how her village started to be overrun. She recalled one night, it was like any other night when a group of men came to question her father. She said they were secret police of some sort. Looking out her window, she could see the entire interaction on the street. That would be the last time she saw her father. They took him away and he never came back. She was certain they killed him. Shortly after, they escaped to America.

I was in shock as she told me this. Lucy retold it in such a methodical manner, giving a recount of details like reading a report. I wondered how many people she had told this to. I deduced it wasn't many. I felt honored that she felt she could share such a painful part of her life with me. I desperately wanted to hug her and cry with her like a daughter. Instead, we went back to watching the movie, still talking here and there.

For months I was with Lucy in the mornings and sometimes a few hours after work.. Lucy became "My Lucy" and I became "her Rosie". I looked forward to my mornings with Lucy. It was all going well until the day my supervisor called me in her office. She told me they would no longer have me help Lucy because they needed me to come in earlier. I tried to take it in and be strong, but I couldn't. Right there in the office, I started to cry. Not like a single tear Ghost movie cry, but like a hide under the covers ugly cry. It felt like someone trampled my heart. In that moment I realized how much my mornings with Lucy truly meant.

Walking out of her office, I locked eyes with Lucy. I knelt down in front of her wheelchair and she cupped my face with her hands. She said to me "I don't understand why they want to take my Rosie away!" There wasn't much I could say except that I didn't know and tried not to start crying again. For a woman that had lost so much already, I didn't like adding to that loss.

From then on, Lucy and I still tried to spend time together. We tried to sit next to each other and steal moments to talk. Even though TCM was gone, the deep love and friendship we formed remained.

Eventually I left that job to go to nursing school full time. We also ended up moving out of the area. Saying goodbye to her permanently was tough. And by tough, I just don't think I can find a proper word to accurately describe my emotions. So I'll just say it was tough.

I thought about her a lot after I left. For a long time it was daily. When we were pregnant with our first girl, I really pushed for her to be named Lucy. I wanted to honor her and remember her. By then, she had passed away. She would never get a chance to tease me and say "Why no babies yet?" and I'd finally tell her there was one on the way.

As we watched TCM last night, I couldn't stop smiling. I had so many memories replaying, tied to this TV channel. What I concluded after reminiscing about TCM and my Lucy is, that we all matter. We all have a story and that story matters. Life can be busy and it's tempting to hit the cruise control and coast through the day. It's easy to pass by strangers without a glance. It's easy to only hover the surface with strangers, acquaintances and even friends. It's easy to see the same people every Sunday for years and never know more than their first name. This isn't how God designed us. He didn't create us to be passing ships. He created us for fellowship, for communion with one another. So how can I increase in this area? A simple way is finding out someone's story.

Everyone has story. Everyone has an unwritten memoir; facts, experiences, and unique circumstances that have helped shape who they are. Maybe we should stop cruising and start engaging. Get past the surface and find out about someone's life. What's their story?

Hebrews 10:24-25 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching"

How can I help you be better? How can I stay in fellowship with you? How can I encourage you? These verses are about going the extra mile and caring about someone other than just yourself. Again, let me get to know you. Tell me your story.

I was and still am so blessed I got to know Lucy. I was and still am honored she shared some of her story with me. It makes me happy that I was someone's "Rosie" and she will always be my Lucy.