admin Posted on 8:13 pm

I’m not here for long, but I’m here to have a good time

While jogging this morning, my iPod heard the lyrics: “I’m not here for long, but I’m here to have a good time” by George Strait. The melody flows smoothly while allowing the feet and mind to race, and that is not found in any ancient melody. Yesterday my dear friend lost her mother. His mother, affectionately named Mimi, had fallen last winter and broken her arm, and although the fracture had healed, she had not returned to her vibrant self. Pale and worn in appearance, his smile still radiated, but with a little less intensity, and some of his vitality had diminished.

Mimi had served as our city’s public librarian for the past 50 years. He was about to retire and had begun the search for his replacement, but his official exit papers had not been signed. Because of the latter, your years of paying into the state retirement system come to naught. Instead of collecting your pension for many years, you simply go back to the retirement plan. This seems both satisfying and horrible. Horrible because you worked so long and invested so much, but you won’t reap the rewards; satisfying because Mimi loved her job, worked hard, and hadn’t been ready to quit until a few months ago. So I guess he enjoyed his good time, even though he wasn’t here long, at least not long enough.

Yes, Mimi had had a certain degree of longevity; I guess about 75 years. I base this on her years of employment plus the ages of her children. However, Mimi’s appearance and demeanor contradicted her age, as she wore the most beautiful and fashionable clothes in bright colors with a flowing design and her hair magically rolled into a kind of bun with wispy ruffles decorating all the angles. She radiated freshness and kindness, and of course, there was that beautiful smile. I imagine that anyone who visits our library once or twice would know her and remember her professionalism and down-to-earth attitude. She guided and assisted as she taught the value of books, research sources, and the content of “her” library.

Mimi’s granddaughter explained to me that Mimi had visited her and her children just two nights before her death, as personable and gracious as ever, sharing fresh peaches from her tree with her two great-grandchildren. “When the boys got nervous, he headed home,” the granddaughter smiled. “I never would have guessed …” and two days later, with flu symptoms as the only indicator, Mimi was gone.

And so even though Mimi wasn’t here for a long time, she must have been having a good time. Dedicated to her work and family, she didn’t seem interested in traveling or leaving home for long. Although he had a lot of money, he did not live extravagantly, but rather with quiet grace. Her kindness combined with competence made her something of an icon of dignity and charm in our community, along with kindness and understanding. I will always remember its elegance; I will work to emulate your style and poise. I appreciate your friendship and your contribution to the essence of my life.

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