Oh, how I spoketh too soon.
The rains swooped in and the temps dropped and my mental daffodils are feeling very droopy today. I splashed back home after dropping Jane off at school. My rain boots are four hundred years old, and I was wearing my St. Louis baseball hat to mush down my frizzy hair.
It’s supposed to snow on Sunday.
The frown crease in between my eyebrows is getting epic.
When the bus stopped I hopped off and went into the tiny local grocery store on the corner. It’s insanely over priced, but it’s small and warm and bright and cheerful. I’ve started running into the same people in the neighborhood, which is reassuring in a small comforting way.
Today my favorite lady was there. The first time I met her she was wearing a floor length mink coat and bright red lipstick at 10:00 in the morning while buying a bushel of avocados. I overhead the cashier call her Miss Edith.
She was there again today. Miss Edith was wearing a bright pink rain slicker, with bright pink lipstick to match, and a plastic cap over her hair. I wonder about Miss Edith a lot. I wonder how she manages to survive here as an elderly person (the subway stairs kill my knees already). I wonder if she grew up here, or moved here as a starry eyed young woman during WWII. I wonder if she has a boyfriend. How many times she was married. If she had children. But what I do know is that somewhere out in Queens, she lives in a magical place with a giant closet.
She swept out of the grocery store carrying a sack full of oranges and green onions, standing out against the concrete sidewalks and construction sites like a bright pink bird on a bleak gray day.
So despite the blustery weather, and the momentary retreat of spring, I walked home with my baseball hat and frizzy hair feeling a bit more buoyed.
Maybe I’ll try to find some bright pink rain boots just like Miss Edith.
elizabeth-harrell.com 
Even though totally inappropriate, I would have loved to have seen a photo of Miss Edith. I can just picture her.
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I almost said something on your last post about spring in the north…but then I thought, why be that person? 🙂 It will come back, rest assured. Though here in Michigan it always snows at least once in April.
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I wish I could meet your Miss Edith. She sound interesting. I once had a Mrs. Lucille Pendleton in my life. If it is okay with you, I will add the link. Please forgive me if I am being intrusive and uncivil for adding the link about my Lucy: http://featheringnest.blogspot.com/search/label/Lucy%20Pendleton
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Ahh….these are the photos and stories I have missed in your posts….these are the writings that got me hooked on your blog many years ago – simple, observant, inspiring, humorous, insightful!
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That’s incredibly kind, thank you!
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Ah, spring, such a tease! I grew up and lived in the Rocky Mountains for 30+ years and there’s nothing quite like having SNOW in May or June, followed by an 85 degree day. Sigh.
Also, Miss Edith knows what’s up. Bright lipstick and fabulous outerwear are the key to surviving dismal weather, methinks. 🙂
xox
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I love your story about Miss Edith. I have to think…only in New York City! She sounds fabulous. I really love your photos, especially of the cozy bedroom.
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Wanted to say hi!Got busy with my work and haven’t been blogging in forever. Spent the morning catching up! So happy for you Liz!!! Also happy to see your always lovely photos—you capture things so well!
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i often wonder about people i meet as well- what their back story is. everyone has a story. you should get friendly with her and a few other people you meet and write a novella about the back stories of your neighbors. it would be lovely. i especially think miss edith would be fantastic. i am so happy you continued writing.
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