The Unsung Heroes

No, I'm not going to write about fire fighters. Or police officers. Or members of the military. Or anyone whose job it is to serve and protect..  

This week, I give a hearty shout-out to the women in my life who have helped whip me into shape.The ones who have inspired me to be a better me.

Before I get started, I want to say that no, I'm not including my mom or my sisters here-- their influence on my life has been considerable, but there simply isn't enough room here to do them justice.

So, without further ado, and with preliminary apologies to anyone I am leaving out...the envelope, please. And the winners are...

Judy Mabe-Squires
Judy moved in across the street from us when I was about 13 years old. She first befriended my sister, Denise. At the time, she was in her 30's, divorced, and needed a babysitter for her young daughter, Sheila. When asked if I would be interested in the job, I jumped at the chance. I sat with Sheila for many years while Judy attended night school at Cleveland State University. And on Saturday nights  when she dated. After graduating from high school, I got a job at an insurance agency downtown. Judy offered me a ride to work. When the job started to head south for me, Judy said there was an opening in her company, and would I be interested. Oh, yes. I was. And for three years I worked at the Albert M. Higley Company, General Contractors. Judy was my first mentor, but she also cared about me. She looked out for me. She made me feel like part of her family. She showed me what possessing perseverance, integrity and a good heart could achieve.

Pamela Collins-Stec
Pam and I worked together at J.B. Robinson Jewelers. From my vantage point in the accounting department, I was in awe of Pam. Sophisticated, artistic, witty and worldly, I never believed I could live within her circle. Eventually, I moved to the advertising department in an entry level position, and later on I worked for Pam. She invited me to spend time with her outside of work.We went antique shopping one rainy Saturday and sat talking afterward in her apartment. We yacked about life and men and a lot of things I don't remember. But I do remember the joy of being in her orbit. Of discovering that, as well as being this amazing human being, Pam had a heart that, for size, rivaled the universe. Over the years, she would marry, have two great kids, and survive breast cancer. We still meet for lunch. And yes, I am still in awe of her.

Bette Bradbury
Bette was the Vice President of Marketing when I worked at Kay Jewelers in Alexandria, Virginia. Kay took over J.B. Robinson Jewelers, and in 1986, I was a soon-to-be-unemployed retail advertising copywriter/print manager. Bette took me in, and I was never sorry that I made the move. Bette was a demanding boss, but always cared about us personally, too. She believed in us and fought for us. And when we screwed up, she took the flak, quietly reprimanding us in private. We didn't want to disappoint Bette. As a result, she got the best work out of us. Toward the end, shortly before Kay was taken over, Bette could see the handwriting on the wall. She allowed us to experiment with a print campaign that was really out there. And she gave me the opportunity to write and produce radio spots. It was a great experience for me, and I was grateful. After Kay closed, Bette moved out to New Mexico, where she works to help women to  work. I feel blessed to know her.

Anna Mae Joyce
Mrs. Joyce came into my life by way of my mother-in-law, Gracemary. She was one of the very few friends Grace had, and she was very good to her. Not in a patronizing way, but in the way of true friendship. After my husband, Bill, and I moved in with his mom to take care of her, I recall Mrs. Joyce coming over to pick up Grace to take her out for ice cream. They would laugh like school girls together. Mrs. Joyce, a widow, had been married to a man who was bi-polar. So she understood and was sympathetic to Grace, who struggled most of her life with mental illness. When he was little, Bill went to Mrs. Joyce's house with his mom, and she would park him in her library, where he would sit and read while the women would "kaffe klatch," as Grace always put it. Over time, Mrs. Joyce became more to me than just a friend of my mother- in-law. When I went to see her in the hospital, she shared her own story of her life and gave me a better understanding of Grace. And grace. She was thoughtful, courageous, kind, and resilient. She had a lot of faith, and it served her well. I still miss her.

There have many women in my life who have touched me, who have made me a better person. If you are one of them and I haven't called you out by name, I apologize. But know that you, too, have made a difference. You have brightened my life, eased my pain, made my way lighter, showed me how to do it right. And I am grateful to you all.