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An Eagle's Eye
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! Thanks readers, for faithfully reading this column - for
approaching me when you see me out to voice your thoughts to me about
this humble little column.
I've always told you readers that I would never lie to you - I would
never knowingly lead you astray. I'm just not going to fill this space
with every moment of my life. I'm not that note-worthy.
There's a Koine (koi-nay) Greek word - agape (uh-gah-pea). This word -
when referring to love - agape love - is the highest form of love.
This is not a sexual love, nor does it carry any sexual connotations or
undertones.
Agape is a sort of "divine" love. It encompasses but, is not limited
to: brotherly love, family love, and charity.
In Homer's literary works - this word "agape" - is literally translated
as "affection." It is a selfless giving of one's self...time, money,
etc....because you desire to do it...with no thought of who is watching
or if...and/or when..you will be repaid.
Her Indian name is "Eagle Eye" and mine is "Hummingbyrd" - in honor of
the Indian blood that is a part of our heritage. That blood is not much
- but we acknowledge it just the same.
So - you could say that the Eagle and the Hummingbyrd ran together.
Maybe it was a "birds of a feather" kind of thing. However it was - it
just all "settled into place" - comfortably.
Eagle Eye found things that were lost to me - in plain sight. And she
had this "eye" for humanity - for seeing through people to the truth.
She could spot a fake, phony, or charlatan...from the first sentence
out of their mouth. I - on the other hand- not so much.
We tested and trusted our way through our friendship until we were
completely at ease with each others' flaws and foibles...until we
barely noticed them.
We could be in each other's company and just "be" - "let it all hang
out" as it was said in the 60's and 70's. There was no need to pretend
we were anything but ourselves - come what may.
When her limitations - or mine - were being "unruly"...we just let that
"be", too.
In the recent past, I did a column or two of Eagle Eye and her journey
with cancer...when she told her story of chemotherapy and
radiation...combined - in her words. It was a long, hard journey that
lasted a little over a year.
On January 7, 2018 - Eagle Eye lost her battle with cancer. I spoke
with her in person...in her Dayton hospital room on December 20, 2017.
She was told then that she was terminal and moved to a Greenville
nursing home.
She made it through 18 round of chemo and 66 radiation treatments. Her
body became sluggish with the red blood cell production and regained
it's momentum when the chemo was finished.
On January 7, 2018 - Eagle Eye said a final "good-bye."
Among 23 year's worth of memories - a couple stand out in my mind:
Watching you run across your yard to dive into your pool...doing the
"Nestea Plunge"...the joy of feeling like a kid!
Decorating for Christmas and the childlike joy of watching the
"classics" - "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Frosty The Snowman."
Among your "wealth of wisdom" from the "Eagle's Eye" - I'll
always remember: "Let them keep talking. The truth will surface. They
will tell you the truth. Leopards don't lose their spots. Zebras don't
lose their stripes. They only rearrange them."
Thanks for reading this.
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!!! MONA
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