"The Lady With the Big Blue Car!

Weekend Read:

The Lady With The Big Car

It’s about a lady sitting on a curb - “Bag Lady,” they called her.  She was older. She was lonely. She lived in a little one-room shack.  One cold day as she was sitting on the curb begging and trying to keep warm by wrapping her old worn sweater around her shoulders a little tighter,  a big blue car slowed down and stopped right beside her; a tall lady got out. 

She stooped to ask the bag lady what she could do to help her.  The bag lady looked up, her dimming eyes reflecting sadness and dejection, answered, “everything”.  Then the tall Lady from the big car asked her if she would consider going for a drive with her.  She took the Bag Lady to her home and asked her to choose some things that she would like to have.

 There were many things in the tall lady’s house that the Bag Lady had not seen for many years and she looked longingly at many of them. The Tall Lady started putting household items and clothing and small furniture in her big blue car and before long, the Bag Lady was driven home and with her went a warm quilt, two woolen blankets, two pillows, some fancy dishes, an almost new, winter coat, two warm sweaters, a small table and a box of food.

The Bag Lady couldn’t quite believe what was happening!  She was most grateful and overwhelmed by it all.  As she sat in her little shack and realized all that she had gained that day, her eyes filled with tears of joy and thankfulness.

After that, “The Lady With the Big Car” made several more trips to the Bag Lady’s little house.  There were no names exchanged but there were several street people and many new refugees who were helped by “The Lady With the Big Car”.

 She didn’t want to bring attention to herself.  It didn’t matter that they didn’t know her name or that no one else realized who was diligently bringing treats, necessities and happiness to these forgotten people. She would load her car with linens, furniture and food for Vietnam Refugees, and the children watched for her and they would jump up and down and announce that “The Lady with the big car is coming” and parents would come out of their dwelling places in anticipation and excitement with ready hugs and loving looks. Everyone in the neighbourhood knew what the announcement meant and it brought them joy and hope.

The “Lady With the Big Car” was my sister.  After our Mom died, just before my 11th birthday, she became my Care Giver, my “Mother.”  She spent many years helping others, specifically those who were in need.  She had spent many years in poverty herself as a single Mother, trying to raise two boys until she married a generous man who loved her and bought her a big blue Lincoln. Not many people knew about the hours she spent with needy refugees and street people.

 Several years ago she died after a lengthy battle with sclaraderma and cancer. She was my hero and I just thought someone else might like to meet my Hero, my Sister.