Patsy
I had the privilege of knowing Ruby for only a few months. Our paths crossed last summer (June 18, to be exact), when as a Grace Hospice volunteer, I was given her name. I visited a couple of times because I had made the commitment to do so, but that quickly transitioned into a friendship.I would drop by Parks Edge whenever I was going down 51st & Yale, thinking I would stay a few minutes … that often stretched into a couple hours. Visiting her a couple times a week, we had many interesting conversations as she shared her life with me.When I walked in, she'd always say, "Well, whatcha up to today?" And, she never failed to thank me for coming and tell me as I left, "You be careful, now." She never complained and always thought tomorrow would be a better day.I called her the "mother hen" of Parks Edge as she was always concerned about other residents such as Pauline, Granny and Miss Peoples and did whatever she could to look out for them.I often was there during lunch time. Whenever she wasn't feeling the best or the menu wasn't to her liking, we'd ask for a tomato sandwich … just a piece of bread with a slice of tomato, mayonnaise and salt. That was a new one to me.While I am sad that she is no longer with us, I will always keep her in my heart. She was a delightful, little lady who enriched my life in so many ways.