My friend Lesma

I still can hardly believe she's gone. The last time I saw her she brought me food and gave me a hug. I wish I had known it was the last time. I wish I had known she had cancer.

I got to know Lesma at work. She was the housekeeper in CCU when I worked there as a unit secretary. So many memories have come back since I heard she died in her sleep a month ago. Lesma had her faults, but she was a hard working, simple woman who became my friend. When I first got to know her she was in her 70's, working two jobs and sending money to her grown children back in Jamaica. She was no longer spry but kept plugging along, pushing her housekeeping cart, emptying trash, and cleaning rooms. When she got tired or had a slow time, she'd come sit at the secretary's desk and "take a five." Many times I and other people had a hard time understanding her with her thick Jamaican accent. "Yeah mon!" was usually her way of agreeing or saying yes. She'd complain about the cafeteria food, saying that's why her belly hurt. I suppose it was actually her cancer. Sometimes she'd have me make phone calls for her or explain notices she got in the mail. Several times she wanted me to buy things online for her... a phone case, shoes, something for her son in Jamaica. Once I talked to her son because she handed me the phone and told me to tell him about something she got in the mail regarding her 401k. That was a little awkward! I introduced her to Google street view and she showed me where she lived (a row house in downtown Reading), and I showed her my house. Then she wanted to "see Jamaica." She was intrigued with that. Many times she wanted to share food with me. One time there was a meal given for the housekeeping department and she brought me a plate piled high with different kinds of pasta they had. In 2017 she became a United States citizen and the CCU staff threw her a party. We were so happy and proud for her! This picture, taken that day, is on her WhatsApp profile.

After looking at hair styles online at work for weeks before, she got her hair done especially for her citizenship ceremony. One of the nurses from work went to the courthouse to witness the ceremony. Lesma retired from the hospital towards the end of last year but came back a couple times to see everyone.

Today a memorial service was held in the hospital chapel in honor of Lesma. Quite a few people attended and shared memories and some tears. I'm glad I had the chance to get to know this Jamaican mama. I wish I could spend one more day with her.