Mrs. B and I at the Wedding

Well, in continuing talking about people who have influenced me and in honor of her birthday which is today, I'd like to tell you about Mrs. B.

I met Beverly Pelletier in 1999 when I first arrived on Guam. She was one of the friends who first accepted me and took care of me. She worked in the main office as well and we ended up spending tons of time together. My first summer on Guam was a little difficult as I was living by myself for the first time ever. I found that I needed someone who I could just spend time around - an opportunity to be out of my quiet apartment. Mrs. B was on "granny patrol security" which meant that she would drive around campus on a golfcart making sure everything was okay and watching over the Bible Institute students. She let me ride with her and we bonded in an incredible way over those hours of riding around on the golf cart.

She is like an adopted Mom, Grandma and Friend all in one. She took care of me and let me sleep on her couch all drugged up when I had to get my wisdom teeth out. She let me tag along with her around island on various errands before I had a car. She even dragged me out of bed on Saturdays at 6:00 a.m. so we could get to K-Mart before the crowds for our weekly shopping trip. I've since forgiven her for that. :) She was always amazed that I could get up at like 5:58 a.m. and be out the door at 6:00 a.m. with my hat firmly in place covering my wild bedhead hair. When I decided that I was going to spend Christmas alone in my apartment all day because I was depressed about spending Christmas on Guam without my best friend, Vanesa (who had gone home that year), she made sure I came over and ate with her and several of the Bible Institute students. Basically, she took care of me and was a very close friend.

Mrs. B and I will always be friends. Our friendship can cover the distance no matter where we are. She listened to me completely, felt free to let me know when I was wrong and accepted the real me with no reserve. I could trust her with who I was and know that she would help mold me into something better. The amazing thing is that this is who she was with everyone - not just me. She loved the Micronesian students like they were her own kids and they trusted her too. Each of us who have had the privilege of being a part of her life have carried part of her with us as we have moved on. Thank you, Mrs. B. I love you and miss you. Happy Birthday.