A Friend, a Guardian Angel, and a Wedding

When my mother was homeless due to her depression and living in a shelter in New York City, she walked the streets from morning until night. She would later say that it was a miracle that she was never harmed. Back then, her closest friend was a woman named Beula from the Bahamas. Mom told me that her and Beula would often walk together. Shortly after my mother returned home, Beula came to visit us. My mom embraced her and introduced me to her as her "guardian angel."

Within a year of her visit, she called my mother and informed her that she was going to be married. It would be a very small ceremony and she wanted my mom to be a witness. Of course my mother was thrilled for her friend. We made the drive to Manhattan and it was indeed a very small wedding, it was just 6 of us. I think the public official that performed the ceremony must have taken the photo below.

My mom hung balloons, made a flower arrangement, a couple of corsages and even got me to be the ring bearer. I asked my Dad how I ended up getting that job, and he said, "because you were young and available."

Although they hadn't known each other for that long, they both shared a similar struggle and in this time of darkness for both of them, they found some light in each other's company. Maybe that’s why she asked us to be there with her on her wedding day.

I don't know what ever happened to Beula, but I do know that the friendship that she forged with my mother was truly special. Their lives intersected at exactly the right moment in time and were that much better because of it.