When I was about 4 years old, I used to follow my Papaw Lilly everywhere he went. Mom used to say if he stopped really fast I would run right through him. He was always working in his garden, mowing, or just setting outside playing his harmonica. He enjoyed reading his bible and singing "Lily of the Valley". He kept me pretty entertained.


One windy March afternoon he was getting ready to put up his hoe and go inside for a nap. He opened his pump house and stepped inside. I was standing outside the door waiting. I looked up through the garden and out of the big white puffy clouds came a beautiful lady setting in a rope swing. She had wavy long golden hair. She was dressed in a long white gown with opal looking wings. "I screamed Papaw." He whirled around and looked straight at her. I ran behind him. He said oh baby don't be afraid she won't hurt you. He said now don't tell anyone about this ok.

I ran home just as fast as I could. Mom was washing clothes and hanging them out to dry in the wind. I was standing in front of a little gas heater warming my legs, as I was telling her my story. She was ignoring me. I remember getting so emotional that I cried. She said you've had a bad dream now hush.

I remember right about the same time they were having a big baptism right below the house, in the Guyandotte. I remember it looking just like that movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” All the old ladies were dressed in long gowns, I guess they were robes. I remember mom saying all those people were going to go see the Lord.

I guess that day had so many traumas on me that I quit talking to anyone other than mom or my little sister. They bribed me and everything but, I would not say a word. Mom would give me notes to take over to the little store. I would even give Papaw and Granny notes. Granny would try and get me to talk she'd say people will think that the cat has got my tongue.

One day almost a year maybe longer granny told me if I didn't go talk to papaw and tell him supper was ready that she would give my chocolate candy bar to my little sister. I finally broke down and it was the hardest thing I ever did. I said come to dinner Pa. He grabbed me and swung me around hollowing woo wee, his happy words. I never did mention what I had seen again until after Papaw died.

One day about a year or so after he passed, Granny; she was his second wife my Step Grandmother, was talking to her two daughters out back by the pump house. They were reminiscing about him playing his music and whistling. She said you'd think sometimes he was out here talking with someone. I spoke up and told them about the angel. She wanted to know what she looked like and I told her. She turned pale and said "oh my that sounds like Mary his first wife”. She said, “Why honey didn't you ever tell anyone?” I told her that papaw had told me not too. She said that is why the poor little thing quit talking she was traumatized. She cried and said she truly believed me. Her daughters being teachers said I probably needed counseling.

A couple years ago, I got a video camera and decided to tape the family cemetery for my mom. I played "Angels Among Us” in the background. My Grandma Mary's picture is on her headstone. When I aimed the camera at her picture I saw those big puffy clouds behind her in the reflection. I realized from that moment, that she is my guardian angel. I was named after her. I look at her picture often and just thank her for watching out for me. God knows I have had some close calls.

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