Thank You Mrs. Conlin

Do you know the impact you make on others?

The excited Nativity School fifth grade girls laughed with each other as I sat quietly in the back of the van. As loud and freewheeling as I was at home, playing and acting out with my seven brothers and sisters, I was sometimes shy in social settings.

My classmate, Ann had invited me to her birthday party. After having dinner at a local pizza joint, her mom was driving all of us back to their home for a slumber party. Ann and all the girls were friendly and fun, but I felt out of step in that awkward coming of age time.

As we parked at the curb to Ann’s home, I looked at her big three-story house, stately nestled among other large, beautiful homes on 9th Street. It was much bigger than our shoe-box-shaped one-story house on the other side of University in South Fargo.

Feeling out of place, I gulped and felt funny in my stomach as I made my way from the back seat to follow the others out the side door of the van.

“Hey, kiddo,” Mrs. Conlin said pleasantly to me; I was the last one stepping out of her car.

“Oh oh. Did I do something,” I thought worriedly. I stopped and looked at her.

“I just want to tell you, you have the most beautiful, big blue eyes and pretty smile. Remember this, you are going to grow up to be a beautiful woman. Now go have fun tonight,” she said with a kind smile.

I blinked and smiled. A sense of happiness flowed warmly through me and stifled much of my cold anxiety. Without saying a word, I turned and ran into the house with the other girls.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon the obituary of Kathryn Conlin. According to the obit, she had passed away, February 7, 2010—gosh, 11 years ago today—after having “lived an exemplary life of kindness and integrity with a remarkable devotion to philanthropic organizations.” I read her loving and upbeat obituary, and my memory of her from 50 years before came rushing back.

As I had several times in my life, I said a prayer of gratitude for her kindness to recognize my struggle and do something to lessen it. I often wondered how many other people she helped.

You may never know the impact you make. Thank you, Mrs. Conlin.

Judi Stoa’s Donchyaknow Life Lessons to see and bring out the best in yourself and others.

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