Everyone has a story! They may not think their lives are interesting, but they underestimate the power their story may hold for someone who needs to hear it. Sally Brinkerhoff is one of those individuals.
We had been visiting for a few minutes. Sally was convinced she didn’t have anything special to say. I had just asked her what she was doing, “Nothing really. My kids tell me this is my time to just heal.” It was about then Sally’s granddaughter Candice walked in and debunked that statement in two sentences, “She is the nicest person I’ve ever met. She secretly helps people.”
Sally retired after 28 years of driving the school bus, picking up students in Alton and delivering them to Orderville. She always enjoyed the kids but didn’t like driving in snow very well. She retired in 2020 to tend to the needs of Leon who had been diagnosed with cancer, “I never have had one regret about that decision.” Then she chuckled a bit and added, “Leon always needed a lot of tending.”
In May of 2022 Sally was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She says, “I’m doing fairly well. This is my third go about, but I’m a tough ‘ol bird.” She’s doing much better than fairly well. She has an amazing attitude, easy smile, and laughs readily.
Candice mentioned that Sally does have some interest in other things. “She loves to garden, and she has pet Horny Toads. What are their names again?” I stole a glance at Sally, and she nodded yes and giggled. “Horace, Junior and Smiley. The grandkids kept bringing them to me, so I’ve studied up on them now, I’m a Horny Toad Caretaker.”
Leon was a cowboy, I asked Sally if she ever rode with him. She leaned back and grinned, “Only when no one else was available. I was more of the camp-jack (jack of all trades) and cook.” Now she has five girls and eleven grandkids, all of whom shared many of their vacations out camping and riding on the Arizona Strip with their grandparents.
The banter between Sally and Candice was just fun to watch. “Candi is my mail getter and packs my wood in for me.” Candice chimed in with that perfected teenage tone, “We have to take care of grandma.” Sally filled in, “You like to help grandma.” They continued their teasing with a whispered retort from Candice, “I have to.”
Sally and I agreed about reaching out for help. Neither one of us is very good about it. But she has a better way of saying it, “If you can’t do it yourself it doesn’t really need to be done.”
