Edna

Edna

I have known Edna for quite a few years now,
a quiet lady,
classy in her own way,
I often see her at the Wall Mart here in Conyers,
she is a quiet woman for whom I have more than a little respect,
a hard worker,
earnest,
the salt of earth type of person.

Middle class,
been with Wall Mart for over twenty years,
58 years old,
so she is like me getting up in years.

I was at her place of employment this morning;
when there I don’t always expect to see her for it is a super store,
a place one can get lost in.
As I was walking by the households isle
I heard my name being called
and there she was,
smiling,
welcoming.

We talked,
soon I could tell that she was going through quite a bit,
she was feeling isolated,
even betrayed by those she worked for
and yes
her church.
So I just listened.

She is worried about her job,
now being 58 and having worked for Wall Mart for over 20 years,
her salary was more than most,
so she told me that they can’t fire her
but they make things so difficult for people like her,
loyal employees,
that they end up quitting,
she did not understand how they could treat loyal employees so badly.

She was worried about health issues,
her insurance is not as good as she would like,
but she is thankful that she has it,
but it pays very little,
so she is in debt with the hospital which she is paying a bit every month,
for she pays her bills.

Her church also bothers her,
she went into that a bit and again I listened,
really not knowing what to say,
as she talked I felt helpless and was even beginning to take on her hopelessness,
a very bad habit that I have,
for it helps no one with that happens.
So I tried to keep my boundaries up and stayed with her.

What to say?
I suppose I did make the appropriate noises
but they sound so phony,
for we each carry a burden alone,
or so it seems at times.

She finished and she came forward for a hug,
after the embraced I said I would pray for her,
yet it sounded hollow,
though I meant it,
for when in the midst of suffering and worry
that is all that seems real,
yet hopefully things will settle for her,
but like so many she struggles mightily to make it through the day,
making me sad that I could not do more.

So it goes.