A giant, purple muumuu cascaded over her large, mocha body as she sat in my exam room. I still suspect that catching cold delighted Mrs. Rodriguez*, since it gave her a reason to see everyone at the office. 

A retired kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez carried around bucketfuls of pent-up love. Each time I saw her, I got a little dousing–a blue tote that reminded her of her beloved bluebonnets that I must see one day, a heart-shaped necklace at Valentine’s, or gas station burritos. 

Photo courtesy of Phillip Howard via flickr.com 

“Best burritos in Rochester,” she said. “You’ve got to know where the real Mexicans cook.”  

That day, she proffered this gem: “Enjoy singleness, Shannon. Once you get married, you can’t just walk around the house tooting.” 

It was as if I was sitting at my kindergarten desk again, eyes fixed on this big, soft lady with teeth white as milk who was teaching me the fundamental lessons of life. How robins come from blue eggs. That rain falls in April. And, that freedom in tooting is a luxury of singleness. 

Good to know.

* Name has been changed.