Last Thursday I accepted an offer to spend the day with a gal from our ward (we serve in both a ward and a branch) who’d had recent back surgery. She’s in pain and quite lonely so when the RS prez asked what the ward sisters could do for her, she said she’d just love to have someone to talk to now and then. Lori’s spine was injured when she was rear-ended by a utility truck a few weeks ago. It’s been a real uphill battle for her. Her only child, Rebecca is ten and a real sweetie. I called the night before and asked if Becca would like to play during our visit with a kid-friendly doggie named Polly. They were delighted to have us both. I’d been told that Lori was very shy, quiet, and rarely spoke to anyone. Well, you’d never know it by our visit! She opened right up with an account of her mission in the Phillipines – she served the starving and downtrodden at several Cambodian-Vietnamese-Laotion refugee camps. Oh, my! The sad tales she told of those poor people . . . we both cried.
She went on to relate her and husband, Jerry’s adoption process of Becca. The story was a sad one (birth parents were 15 and 27 – the elder a wealthy Hispanic man whose machismo was threatened by giving up “his” child. He wouldn’t back off until threatened with a charge of statutory rape.) The story was one of both deep pain and total joy . . . we both cried.
Husband Jerry is a PhD who writes questions for the ACT, SAT, and several GEDs (whew!). His company is just down the street and he popped in now and then. Very sweet man.
Okay, so that doesn’t sound like such a remarkable visit except that Lori, herself, is just incredible. She’s not of this earth . . . almost. I’ve rarely spent time with a woman who is half-human, half-angel. Her perspectives, her gentle manner, her choice of words, her pure countenance. Just amazing. Any mere mention of her pain and her needs? Only a grimace now and then. And Lori Grife is regarded as just a shy little gal who sits in the back of the RS room and never talks. If they only knew!
We reluctantly parted with many hugs. One visit and she’s a kindred spirit – a friend for life. And the best news of all? I get to go spend the day with Lori again this coming Wednesday!
How lucky for both of you! It's amazing that some of the quiet souls have so much depth that we miss when we don't have/take the opportunity to connect on more than a superficial level. I think that's too true of life in general. It's why Book Group is so great, our former Lunch Ladies, and any time we make the time and setting to hear. So glad you have Lori. Miss you here!
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