THE STORY OF MIMA’S MAGIC BLANKET
Bella’s grandmother. Santas Oade, a saintly woman, born on all Saints day in Spain, oldest of 12 in a tiny village of 300 people, Penerando De Duero. She was an expert in all things related to crafts as the tiny village was isolated with few outside wares coming in to the village. They sustained the village thru their kindness to each other. When “Mima”, as she was affectionately called by Bella and her older brother Lucas, was getting up in years, she started knitting a really wonderfully warm blanket for all four of her children. I remember her working on them tirelessly whenever she had spare time from her busy life of raising 4 children. I have had Mimas blanket in my possession, except when Bella moved out to the little farm I had in Quincy, and she begged me incessantly until I agreed. I protected the blanket as the precious heirloom it has become. I originally was unaware of its magic powers, I only knew it was so very warm and comforting . When Bella was just a small child and she encountered things in this world that scared her or made her extremely sad, she would come to me usually crying, asking me if I would get under Mima’s Blanket with her. We would lie under it and hold each other. Sometimes we would just cry, but usually talk as well. She would eventually start feeling much better and she would lift the blanket up and go face the world. She used it all her life, that’s the power of love emanating from the heart and hands of Santas Oade. All the neighbors used to bring her their “dying” plants and she would bring them back to life in ways no one understood. Bella really loved her Mima and watched her slowly die. Bella was always such a comfort to Mima. She made her a painting from the famous 10th century “Castle of Penerando”, a pillow stuffed with lavender and rosemary so it would bath Mima in wonderful smells. She was always bringing her drawings and other crafts to make her smile. She would hold her or put her head on the bed and sooth Mima with her affection. Bella was the epitome of ❤ and kindness, as well as self sacrifice !
BELLA THE PEACEMAKER
Bella was the consummate peacemaker since she was able to speak. I remember her Montessori school teacher evaluation when she was 4, in which the teacher proclaimed she didn’t know what she was gonna do when Bella moved on. She had already mastered all the tasks and exercises for 6 year olds, but the real reason she hated to see her go was because of her loving, compassionate nature. She informed us when she would come to school and was suffering, as she had a debilitating physical condition, Bella would sense that and come up to her immediately and give her a giant hug, for as long as necessary, until she felt better and could approach the day with a renewed vigor. Bella would also come to the aid of anyone who was injured in play, or by someone’s actions, she would either run get the teacher if she was close enough or she would sit with the injured party and stroke them gently, and speak words of encouragement to them to ease their pain and sadness. Later, when she attended the School of Arts and Sciences she received the esteemed Peacemaker award on multiple occasions. She told me of the “Time Machine” they used in class for conflict resolution.The kids in conflict would get in the Time Machine and tell the other person what they did that hurt them, and how it made them feel. She was always stating how effective it was at resolving conflicts, and that communication was much better than anger or violence. Bella was the consummate peacemaker throughout her life.