My Personal Angel
Meagan Mercer Hurley

It was six weeks after the day I came into this world that I was introduced to my personal angel. My family lived at 143 Morris Drive, and she lived right next door. Her name was Mrs. Barbara Davidson. She was tall and had dark hair mixed with a little gray.

She started babysitting me when I was six weeks old. Before my mom would go to work, she or my dad walked Alisha and me across the grass to Ms. Barbara's. Alisha and I never dreaded going to the babysitters. We loved her. She let us fix her fair and play grocery store. When we played grocery store, we got out all of her canned goods and drinks and lined them up. One of us would check the other out when they finished shopping. I liked to pretend to check people out because I liked to handle the money (I still do.).

Everyday we would watch her favorite TV show, "The Price Is Right". Ms Barbara was like no other person. Her favorite time of the day was when we were with her. After her husband died, the only family she had around her was my family. She came to church with us on the Holidays and Mother's Day. She ate with our family on big events. She was just another Grandmother with all of our family.

Words could not express how much she loved children. She had one daughter, with whom I am still in contact with to this day. Therefore, she considered my mom her daughter and my dad was the son she never had. I thought it was the worst thing ever when Alisha started to school and it was just Ms. Barbara and I. We became so close. I told her everything, probably more than I told and talked with my parents. She was becoming more like my best friend than my babysitter.

A few years after I started school, her husband died. His name was Mr. Sonny. He was still working at Goodyear when he died. Ms. Barbara then had to stay by herself a lot. I didn't like the idea that she alone, so I thought I would fix it. Every night for about 2 years, I spent the night with her. If I was out with my parents, Ms. Barbara waited up for me to get to her house. If we were at Sandy's, I called her before we left to tell her I was on my way. I was extremely spoiled by her. During the middle of the night, if I could not sleep, she would read me a book or get up with me and watch TV. Tell me how many other people would do that in the middle of the night. We had so many talks and spent so much time together.

On one of the few nights that I had not spent with her, the phone call that can change your life forever, as Bro James has so often talked about, happened. When my dad answered the phone, it was Ms. Barbara. He could hardly understand her. He dropped the phone and ran to her. When he got there, he called the ambulance. My family and I followed the ambulance to the Union City hospital. The emergency room doctor told us that she had suffered a stroke.

When she recovered, her daughter and my parents decided that it would be better not to stay alone during the day in case she suffered another stroke. This meant that the day had finally come where I couldn't go or be with her. It wasn't fair. She needed me to stay with her and I couldn't. When she packed and left to go live with her daughter, I suffered the worst heartbreak of my life at that time. Why, was the question that I could never figure out. She came home and got the rest of her stuff and put her house up for sale. But I did not want anyone to buy it. I said daddy why can't you buy it or Brian buy it? I want that house.

But when the day came for someone to buy it, I was satisfied with the buyer. It was Ms. Mary Alice Fender. She was perfect to buy that house. I knew she was not going to abuse my childhood memories. It was so hard for me to live beside that house, knowing that Ms. Barbara wasn't going to answer the door if I went and knocked.

Then the hardest thing I ever had to go through so far in my life happened. My worst fear was now a reality. I had cheerleading practice for freshmen tryouts one day and my Mamaw picked me up at Gibson County. That wasn't unusual because when I had to stay late she always picked me up. But when we pulled up in the drive way and Momma and Daddy were home early, Brian's truck was there and my Grandmother's car was there, I had a sharp pain in my stomach. I feared walking through the door. When I did and all were in tears, I started crying and asking what was wrong. What is it? I shouted in tears! The only thing my mom had to say was she's gone. Immediately I dropped to the floor. Screaming in pain, she's gone. I kept saying no, please no! My mom and dad embraced me. It was a severe hurt to our whole family. After calming down, I went into the living room, only to see Alisha and Brian on the couch crying, so I started crying again.

In my mind were the loads of good memories about things we had done with her. The times she fixed every kid in the neighborhood a picnic lunch, if they happened to be in her backyard playing hide and seek. The times when me and Alisha would put up her Christmas tree that sat on top of her T.V. It was so small but so beautiful.

It was like someone shot me in the heart the day she died. If I could sum her up in a couple of words it would be wise and caring. She cared not only for me and Alisha, but every kid on the block. No matter how mean they were, she loved them. She was also the wisest person I have ever known, even though she only went to school through the second grade.

I went to see her this past mother's day at the cemetery. My mom asked if I wanted her to go with me, but I said no. I wanted to go alone. I cried remembering her, but smiled as I walked back to my car and whispered Happy Mother's Day Ms. Barbara.

She was so much more than my babysitter, she was my own personal angel that God had sent and I did not even know it.

I can't wait to see her again, walking on the streets of gold. We are going to play grocery store and stay with each other all the time. And when I get to be with her again, I'll never have to say good-bye.

God blessed my family by sending us to live beside her. Who has God blessed you with? Who holds a special place in your heart? Let them know you love and appreciate them.