Sheila was a roommate for most of 2019. Younger than me in years, decades ahead in life experiance she was quite a character. After confiding her life story I understood some of her mental health issues. Despite sporatic formal education she was smart as a whip and possessed an endearing childlike curiosity. You couldn’t help but like her. Out of the blue, she stopped by last week. She had moved to Flour Bluff to live with her sister but kept her Doctors in San Antonio. Insulin-dependent Diabetic her health issues along with rough and rowdy living lent a ruggedness to her beauty.
I had been worried because her sugar was way out of control in January. She said she ended up in the hospital in a diabetic coma. Doc told her Dad she wouldn’t make it but here she was 7 months later sitting in my living room. "Sheila, you let your hair go white! I like it." I told her admiringly. She was petite, dressed in cute summer shorts and tank.
Sheila, "Oh thanks" as she leaned forward and grabbed her knees like an awkward teenager, combed her fingers through her shoulder length hair, rolled her eyes, and looked down. Curling her lips into a controlled sincere smile.
She looked good but as usual, her anxiety and general unease hung in the air between us. It always made me feel sad for her. She wore suspicion like an overcoat living in various stages of survival mode.
“Well, Sheila I guess it wasn't your day,” I said in response to her crisis in January.
“Nope, it wasn’t my day” Sheila responded in her southern drawl. She tilted her head and with a giggle asked, “Do you know where I left my teeth?”
Bless her heart. I handed them to her and she was gone. Distracted by a friend that had pulled up in my drive. I watched them talk through my kitchen window thinking she would come back inside. Next thing I knew her car was gone. Just like Sheila to leave without a goodbye.
I received the news thru a text message from her niece two days later. Last night Sheila passed away in her sleep. Such a shock. I immediately felt grateful for our last visit. I feel blessed God put her in my path. I especially am grateful Sheila loosened up her overcoat enough that we could be friends. My loss is heavens gain.
