by Jim Stovall
“Unfortunately, human beings cannot live in a vacuum forever. A bird must struggle in order to emerge from the eggshell. A well-meaning person might crack open the egg, releasing the baby bird. This person might walk away feeling as though he has done the bird a wonderful service when, in fact, he has left the bird in a weakened condition and unable to deal with its environment. Instead of helping the bird, the person has, in fact, destroyed it. It is only a matter of time until something in the bird’s environment attacks it, and the bird has no ability to deal with what otherwise would be a manageable problem.
“If we are not allowed to deal with small problems, we will be destroyed by slightly larger ones. When we come to understand this fact, we live our lives not avoiding problems, but welcoming them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future.”
I was pondering the wise words of my dear departed friend when I looked up and noticed that someone had wheeled Miss Stephanie into the room. She was seated in her wheelchair near Joey.
I smiled and greeted her, saying, “Good morning, Miss Stephanie. I understood that your physical therapy was going to preclude you from joining us today.”
She seemed confused and leaned over to Joey to whisper in his ear. He whispered back into her ear, and then she smiled, nodded, and spoke.
“Joey told me that if I don’t understand a word I should ask. I now know what preclude means.”
Miss Hastings emitted a muffled laugh. I looked at her in mock scorn, saying, “Nothing wrong with a bit of a vocabulary lesson, Miss Hastings.”
I nodded toward Joey and Stephanie. They conferred briefly between them, and Stephanie reported, “Joey found out that since the accident, I have missed so much school I was going to have to repeat the second grade. But he called my teacher and got all of my lessons and classwork so he could bring everything to the hospital. We’ve been having school every day between my therapy sessions and the other stuff the nurses make me do.”
Stephanie looked toward Joey, and he continued the report. “I’m very pleased to announce that due to Stephanie’s hard work, she has caught up on all of her classwork and is actually ahead of the other students in the second grade. I was so impressed with her progress, I contacted the school counselor, and Stephanie will be tested later this year to see about getting her into a gifted program.”
Miss Hastings led the spontaneous applause, and we all cheered for Stephanie and her academic achievements.
I was ready to dismiss our breakfast meeting when Joey interjected, “But that’s not all that happened.”
I nodded for him to continue.
“Well, it kind of goes along with the gift of problems. I was able to teach Stephanie her second-grade lessons, but the amazing thing is what she taught me.”
Everyone looked toward Joey with curiosity and great anticipation as he explained, “I always thought if you were sick, you were sick; and if you were hurt, you were hurt. I assumed that whatever the doctors told you was pretty much how things were going to be … However, Stephanie has taught me about the mind/body connection.”
I was fascinated and motioned to Joey to tell me more.
“Well, with some of Oscar’s books and Stephanie’s daily examples, I learned that doctors can give you their opinion or even an idea of what you might normally expect, but we get to decide what happens to us. So even if the doctors say you’re not going to get well or be able to do certain things, maybe you can.”
Stephanie nodded at Joey in a matter-of-fact way, as if she assumed everyone knew that.
I was lost in thought for a few moments and then adjourned our enlightened breakfast meeting by saying, “On behalf of Miss Sally, I want to express thanks to Oscar, Stephanie, and Joey—not only for performing well in the recent days, but for allowing us all to learn something in the process.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Legacy of Family
Family is a legacy we receive and one we pass along. Some of our family members are connected by blood—others through love.
Miss Hastings and I arrived at Anderson House early in the afternoon the day before our next session with Joey was scheduled. We enjoyed tea in the parlor with Hawthorne, Claudia, and Oscar, which gave all of them an opportunity to report on the status of their respective areas of the Anderson House operation. I was pleased to learn that the reservations and cash flow were on par with the previous year, and regular patrons seemed to want to visit the special place in the aftermath of Miss Sally’s passing.
After I had concluded my tasks as executor of Miss Sally’s estate, which included being responsible for oversight of Anderson House, I enjoyed sitting and talking casually with the three of them. In addition to being special friends, they were an important part of Anderson House and Miss Sally’s legacy.
Hawthorne concluded our discussion over tea and cookies by saying, “The only matter left undone is how to deal with the absence of Miss Sally. She was a vital part of everything we do here.”
I nodded thoughtfully and responded, “I certainly agree, but while Miss Sally can never be replaced, I am hopeful that her spirit, energy, and legacy will live on here in the future.”
I thanked the three senior staff members of Anderson House for their time and thorough reports, as well as for their friendship.
Miss Hastings and I took advantage of the waning daylight to take a walk on the Anderson House grounds. Without consciously thinking about it, our walk logically concluded by taking the path to the memorial gardens that surrounded Miss Sally’s grave and passing through the wrought-iron gate. Miss Hastings and I stood silently and solemnly near the grave for several moments.
She broke the silence, saying, “Mr. Hamilton, she would be very pleased with the work you and Jason have done thus far with Joey.”
I sighed and admitted, “We’ve come a long way, but Joey has no idea how far we have to go.”
The next morning, Joey joined Miss Hastings and me at the Anderson House breakfast table. A few moments later, Jason entered with his bride of less than a year, Alexia, on his arm. Jason was positively beaming with pride and joy.
Alexia had always been an attractive young lady, but in the past year, I’d noticed that she was transforming into one of those women who would be an enduring beauty throughout her life. We all greeted the couple, exchanging pleasantries.
Claudia worked her culinary magic, and Hawthorne hovered on the periphery in case anyone needed to draw upon the bottomless well of his skills and experience.
At what I hoped was the appropriate moment, I got everyone’s attention and said, “Today, we are here to discuss and learn about one of the most important elements of Miss Sally May Anderson’s legacy. It is the Legacy of Family.
“When my lifelong friend, Red Stevens, came to me several years ago and wanted to correct and repair some problems in his own family, he looked to his grandson, Jason, and what has become known to many who followed the odyssey in the media as the Ultimate Gift. I felt at the outset I would share the thoughts of Red Stevens on the subject. From the beginning of his business career, I acted as Red Stevens’s attorney, but unlike many of my other clients, Red was always able to communicate best by speaking for himself.”
I nodded to Hawthorne, who dimmed the lights slightly. Jason was looking about frantically for the remote control.
I smiled and quipped, “I’ve got it, son. Don’t worry about it.”
I took the remote control out of my pocket and pressed the button Miss Hastings had shown me earlier, and then Red Stevens appeared and began to speak.
“Now, Jason, I realize that our family is about as messed up as a family can be, and I accept my full share of responsibility for that. However, the best or worst family situation can teach us a lesson. Either we learn what we want or, unfortunately, we learn what we don’t want in life from our families. Out of all the youn
g men in the world, I have selected you. I have asked Mr. Hamilton to undertake this monumental task on my behalf for you. It’s hard to understand why that means something, but I want you to know that it does.
“Families give us our roots, our heritage, and our past. They also give us the springboard to our future. Nothing in this world is stronger than the bond that can be formed by a family. That is a bond of pure love that will withstand any pressure as long as the love is kept in the forefront.
“It’s important for you to realize that families come in all shapes and sizes. Some very blessed people are able to live their whole lives as part of the families they were born into. Other people, like you, Jason—through a set of circumstances—are left without family other than in name. Those people have to go out and create family.”
Hawthorne brought the lights back up, and I turned to Joey and said, “Joey, your great-grandmother wanted to make sure you received the benefits of the lessons and legacy the Stevens family built.”
Joey interrupted belligerently, “That’s fine for them, but what does this have to do with me and my family? Their family was dysfunctional, but mine is nonexistent.”
I nodded and admitted, “I understand, son, and can’t disagree with what you’re saying. I didn’t know your parents or your grandparents very well, but I knew Miss Sally, and I understand what she’s trying to do here, so I thought I’d let her tell you herself.”
I nodded to Hawthorne who dimmed the lights again, and I pushed Play on the remote control once more. The image of Sally May Anderson appeared on the large flat-screen TV. She looked energetic, excited, and full of life. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would ever see her, but I was grateful I had this video, which we’d shot during her last visit to my office, and I was even more grateful that I could share it with Joey now.
Miss Sally cleared her throat, looked directly into the camera, and spoke. “First, I want to thank my friend Ted for indulging an old lady in all of this … There was never a better attorney or friend than Theodore J. Hamilton.”
I reached into the breast pocket of my jacket for my linen handkerchief. My allergies tend to act up while at the Anderson House due to all the gardens and plant life. Miss Hastings put her hand on my forearm in a gesture of comfort and loyalty.
Miss Sally continued, “And there was never a better friend to my friend than Miss Hastings …”
I leaned toward Miss Hastings and whispered, “The old girl was right.”
As Miss Sally continued, Miss Hastings seemed to experience the same challenge with seasonal allergies.
“I also have to thank my dearly departed friend Red Stevens for blazing the trail for me on how I would like to leave my legacy behind. If there were any trailblazers left in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Red Stevens was certainly one of them.
“And I also have to thank Jason Stevens, Red’s grandson, for helping me make my legacy live on. I never even got to talk to Jason about doing this, but Mr. Hamilton assured me that Jason Stevens would do the right thing. No one ever received a higher compliment.”
I had never known before that moment that Jason suffered with allergies as well.
Sally went on. “I want to express my eternal gratitude to Hawthorne, Claudia, and Oscar, who have been friends, confidants, and my family for over a half a century.”
I was pleased to observe that the trio was standing beyond the breakfast table, taking in Miss Sally’s treasured words for them.
She continued, “Now, I want to speak to my great-grandson, Joey. I know your parents and grandparents were never really a part of your life, and to the extent they abandoned you, it was probably a good thing. I know you’ve already learned from Jason about Red Stevens’s gift of money, so I’ll just say our family never had the benefit of Red’s wisdom until now.
“Your parents and grandparents saw money not as a tool to do anything, but as an excuse to do nothing. Joey, I hope in the coming days, you will come to understand and embrace all that I want you to have and become. If you will keep your mind and heart open, you will not only change yourself, you will change the world.
“And, finally, my dear Joey, I want to thank you for the gift you’ve been to me. Many people don’t live long enough to enjoy their grandchildren, much less their great-grandchildren, as they grow into adulthood. But I have watched you grow into what I believe to be the shell of a great man, and with the help of those around you today, you can be filled with the power, wisdom, and love I want you to experience.
“I know you didn’t have a good family before now, but before you feel sorry for yourself, just look around the room at the best family anyone’s ever had.”
Miss Sally paused to collect her thoughts, nodded primly, certain she had included everything, and concluded, “To my family there, I leave you my thanks and my love. Be well always.”
The screen faded to black, and we were left with an immense silence and void.
After what could have been a few seconds or several minutes, I realized that Hawthorne had raised the lights, and everyone was looking to me. I simply motioned toward Joey and asked, “Well, son. How do you feel about it now?”
It was obvious to everyone that Joey had been touched deeply, but he still disagreed with part of the lesson, saying, “I never knew any of that until she was nearly one hundred years old, and now that I know how she felt, she’s already gone … What good is that?”
I was frantically wracking my brain for something to say when Alexia spoke up.
“Mr. Hamilton, if you will permit me …”
I nodded, and she continued, “Joey, you and I have just met, but I feel as if I know you, because in many ways, you are the mirror image of my dear husband, Jason.”
Jason nodded his thanks to his young bride.
She smiled mischievously and continued, “Except, Joey, you’re a lot smarter and might be better looking.”
We all laughed, which felt good after the emotional roller coaster we had just gone through.
Alexia continued. “I know what it’s like to lose someone. My daughter, Emily, was the most amazing, special little bundle of humanity you could imagine. She brought love and joy into my life. She brought Jason and me together and changed everyone she met … She’s been gone over a year now, and I miss her every hour of every day. But I’ve realized that the way I can keep her alive and make her legacy matter is to share the love and joy that she gave me with everyone. And, Joey, I believe you can do the same thing.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Legacy of Laughter
Laughter is a gift the world sorely needs and a legacy we must pass on.
The routine around Anderson House began to settle into something closer to normal after Miss Sally’s death and the memorial service on the grounds. Joey struggled with his new emerging understanding of family and how the lessons he was learning might apply to him and his future life.
Hawthorne, Claudia, and Oscar reached out to him in a hundred subtle ways, slowly drawing him into all of the activities and routines that made Anderson House what it was. Jason checked in on Joey regularly, and I got daily reports from Hawthorne that were filtered through Miss Hastings.
Joey continued to visit and spend time with Stephanie virtually every day.
Sensing that the reality of life without Miss Sally was weighing upon everyone, I was glad that Joey and the rest of us were in for a dose of laughter—at least according to the notes I’d made regarding the legacy Miss Sally wanted to leave her great-grandson.
Our next session was a bit of a departure, as it did not involve getting together for breakfast, which had become customary. Instead, I planned a casual dinner in the dining room followed by an evening in the Anderson House theater.
Miss Hastings and I arrived in the afternoon so that we could get settled into our accommodations and ensure all was in r
eadiness. As the dinner hour approached, we strolled into the dining room, where Jason, Joey, and young Stephanie had already gathered.
As we were greeting one another, several other dinner guests arrived. One of Jason’s closest friends, David, whom he had met during his Ultimate Gift odyssey, walked in with the aid of a white cane.
Joey had noticed David approaching and seemed to be uncomfortable with the prospect of socializing with a blind person.
As was his custom, David immediately banished any formality or discomfort calling out, “Good evening, everyone. You all look splendid.”
Several chuckles could be heard.
Jason welcomed his friend. “It’s good to see you, David.”
“I always figured it was good to see anything,” David quipped.
Jason directed David toward Joey and made the introductions.
“Joey, this is one of my best friends, David.”
Without hesitating, David said, “Nice to meet you, Joey. Great tie, by the way.”
Joey glanced down quickly and then turned red, realizing he wasn’t wearing a tie. Laughter filled the room.
The last two guests to arrive wore matching tuxedos. Like me, they were at least octogenarians, but they had an energy and sense of humor that belied their age. Introductions were made all around, and everyone found their places at the dining table.
Hawthorne got everyone drinks as Claudia began serving appetizers. I proposed a toast.
“May we drink to one of Miss Sally’s favorite sentiments, ‘When in doubt, just laugh.’”
Glasses clinked, and a pleasant dinner conversation ensued.
After a sumptuous meal, we all made our way down the corridor to Anderson House’s theater. It is a wonderful, ornate room suitable for lectures, live events, or movies.