I have been meaning to tell you the story of Kay for a while now. I met her seven years ago when I volunteered to be a mentor at Richmond High School (of Coach Carter fame). We were matched by a woman named Carol (if you know her please have her get in touch with me). Kay didn't know she was getting a mentor. Neither of us knew what to expect. I only knew that it was something I had wanted to do for a long time.
We got along well from the first day. It started as me helping her with her studies. She was interested in biology. While I don't know anything about biology, we could work on math, physics, English, etc. Soon we became friends and I felt like I could be a role model for her. Kay decided that I was more like a mother.
(The picture on the left is of her studying while wearing a scarf she knit. She is a natural knitter I proud to report).
She is such a unique young woman. She is strong, hard working, and determined to build a better life for herself.
She came from Jamaica at age ten. Her mother had to work 2-3 jobs to support the family. Kay became the family cook and cleaner. She raised herself in many ways. I am not trying to tell you a sad story. I want you to understand how remarkable she is.
She has worked for years now as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Currently she is in her second semester of nursing school. Yay Kay!
Last December she moved in with us. She was living in an awful neighborhood (remember what I said about Richmond being the 11th most dangerous city in the US?) She was also working way too many (graveyard) hours to be able to keep up with her studies. She had worked to hard to get into nursing school to let it slip through her fingers. This is an expensive place to live even in the worst neighborhoods.
So, where do you put another adult and all her furniture when you live in a two bedroom house? You empty the craft stash from one of the bedrooms.
In November and December we removed all my craft stuff and general accumulation from a large bedroom and put it all in a 6 foot by 9 foot shack (thankfully with 10 foot ceilings). In its previous life it was a washroom attached to the back of the house. Now it has a roof that doesn't leak, sheet-rock on the walls, and shelving on every square inch of wall.
This picture is from the first day of moving in. That is much of my fiber stash and some of my yarn stash. I dare not show you what it looks like now. Let's just say that there are no empty spots left. The irony is that it is more accessible now as long as I stay organized.
Citizen Kay
Last November, we went with her when she became a US citizen. I took this picture as she was leaving the swearing in ceremony. I am so proud of her.
She registered to vote just after the ceremony. Okay, I confess that I made her do it. Voting is not just a right, it is an honor and an obligation. (End of voting rant.)
I have written and erased several paragraphs that sounded trite and like I am tooting my own horn. I just want to say that fate brought me a child whose life I could impact for the better. She in turn has brought a richness I never would have expected. We are both better people for it.
Thank you Kay. I love you and I am proud to be your mother.
WOW! Great post. Kay sounds like a wonderful young woman. You must be so proud.
Posted by: Julie | February 08, 2007 at 07:57 PM
Wow, how great for both of you. She is absolutely beautiful!
OH
MY
GOSH!
You have an entire room just for yarn.
SO
JEALOUS!
Posted by: Lisa | February 08, 2007 at 08:26 PM
She sounds like a fabulous young woman and you sound like a fabulous mother. You belonged together. Hurray for you both!
Posted by: margene | February 08, 2007 at 08:28 PM
what a lovely story and an even lovlier woman. you both are lucky to have found one another!
Posted by: Debi | February 08, 2007 at 08:29 PM
What a wonderful story!
Posted by: Jacquie | February 08, 2007 at 08:54 PM
Beautiful post. You are both amazing women.
Posted by: Nora | February 08, 2007 at 11:39 PM
Thanks for sharing that. Kay is a beautiful and motivated young woman. You are both lucky to have found each other. Give her my best.
Posted by: jessie | February 09, 2007 at 03:17 AM
Lovely story. Congratulations to you both!
Posted by: LaurieM | February 09, 2007 at 03:35 AM
This is wonderful. Kudos to you both, and continuted success for Kay.
Posted by: Rachel H | February 09, 2007 at 06:17 AM
What a wonderful story!
Posted by: Norma | February 09, 2007 at 07:04 AM
What a great story, thanks for sharing. Hi, Kay!
:)
Posted by: Rachael | February 09, 2007 at 08:00 AM
Wow, talk about putting your ideals into action. Good on you both (and Roger!).
Posted by: Becca | February 09, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Great story and lovely young lady! AND, she knits! Being an adoptive mother of two, I know first hand that children are not always 'born' to you. They come to you in different ways -- on an airplane, through a mentor program, etc. Much happiness to both of you. And, from one nurse to a soon-to-be one --- great professional choice!! Hang in there, it's worth it!
Posted by: Robin | February 09, 2007 at 10:47 AM
It's nice to know more about Kay. I liked her the first time I met her.
Posted by: Celia | February 09, 2007 at 01:34 PM
Thank you for sharing that story! No wonder you were a non-blogger for a while there--clearly, organizing that stash took some incredible amount of time!!!!
Posted by: Janine B. | February 09, 2007 at 05:47 PM
You are both so very lucky to have each other. I'm so very proud of you both!
Posted by: Kerry | February 09, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Well done Kay and Maia. In my last life, (prior to starting knit-one-one) I taught ESL to immigrants. and have always been so impressed with all the fabulous young women like Kay out there. What great fortune that the two of you found each other!
Posted by: Sile Convery | February 09, 2007 at 10:18 PM