Jacob Bembry, Editor
I wrote last week about my mentally-challenged sister, Abbie, and her God-given ability to make friends. This past Saturday, I saw that Abbie also has some of the gifts of an ambassador.
For the first time in her life, Abbie, went to a manicurist. I took her to TL Nails to have her fingernails done. Believe me, Abbie did not act like an ambassador at first. If I were to evoke memories of seeing film clips of Nikita Kruschev pounding his shoe on a table and telling America that he was going to bury us, it would be closer to the truth. Abbie is a very protective person and no one – and I mean no one – had better try cutting her fingernails.
Even as small as Abbie is, she would have made two of the girl who was doing her nail. Another problem I thought that they had – and I was later proven wrong – was that they could not communicate with each other. The girl could not speak English, and well, Abbie (although she can) just won’t speak most of the time.
Anyway, after I wrestled Abbie’s hands to the table and held them while the manicurist – if I remember her name right, I think it was Thien Ho – trimmed and filed her nails. After she had finished that part, and put lotion on Abbie’s arms and massage them a bit – Abbie liked her. Enter Abbie the Ambassador.
At times like that, if Abbie reminds me of anyone, it is my grandmother, Ava Lee Sealey. She becomes the sweetest person ever, if the situation suits her.
I am always proud of Abbie, but there are some times more than others, my heart swells with pride that she is my sister. Despite her handicaps and shortcomings, she has so many qualities that I wished that I possessed myself. She is truly a gift from God.
I just wonder if President Obama could appoint her as an ambassador. She would probably do better than most of the ambassadors they have now.
