Rhonda hopped right up on the roof and painted like it was no big deal
It was shortly after I purchased my first home when I found out about the Volunteer’s Express Program with Goodwill here in Columbus. I called to inquire about getting someone to help me with the tasks around the house that I couldn’t do. Things like raking leaves, cleaning windows, checking the basement every once and a while, planting flowers, carrying mulch, scooping dog poop, changing the furnace filter and etc…
I was put on the Goodwill wait list and told that it could be several months before a volunteer was located, my only criteria was that they be female. It was more than months, it was actually 3 yrs before I heard from them. During that time I had fallen in love and moved in with someone and was renting out my house. I was still in need of help, my new house was huge and since I did most of the cleaning and laundry, I could use the help. My rental house was also in need of some minor repairs.
Rhonda and I met and hit it off pretty quickly, she explained to me that she wanted to volunteer because her son had recently joined the Navy and she had too much free time on her hands, she would miss him terribly and volunteering for someone would keep her busy. I liked that we were both the same age and that she seemed willing and able to do just about anything. Little did I know, she was seriously willing and able to do just about anything, and I mean ANYTHING.
Um...Rhonda trying for the best angle as she sands the old paint off
In the subsequent months she helped me do laundry, take out the trash, clean the monstrosity of a house, clean icky cat litter pans, and she even tackled a plumbing problem. The latter task led to wet shorts and after a few margaritas and mexican food at our favorite mexican restaurant, a very embarrased Rhonda. In their yearly Volunteer of the Year contest, Goodwill asks that participants relate a story about their volunteers, the plumbing – margarita – wet shorts story earned Rhonda the “Volunteer of the Year Award”, together we attended the award banquet where I got to retell the story in front of 100 Goodwill, staff, participants and dignitaries – Good Times.
About a year after we met, my relationship went South, I desperately needed to get out of that house and moving back into my rental house was my only choice. Thank God for Rhonda’s help. I don’t know what I would have done without her. She found friends with a truck and the willingness to help and together we moved me out of the monstrosity house and into my little house where I remain to this day. During this time I met and fell in love AGAIN, this time though, it was for keeps.
Rhonda helped us settle into our “new” home. Every week for several hours a week she came over to help us. She painted, dug, scrubbed, laid floors, sanded, scraped, you name it Rhonda helped us do it. Just before I moved, I had to retire from my job after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, my income was cut in half and I was being forced by my ex to assume and pay off a $17,000 loan for my new van. Jonny (my partner) was just out of massage school and trying to build her massage practice. These were desperate times for us but Rhonda managed to make things easier by showing up every week, reassuring us that no matter what, no matter how bleak things seemed at the time, she was always there willing to lend a hand. Because of where she worked, she was able to bring “sample” food items for us to “try”,there were times when those “samples” sustained us through the end of the month.
We joked about how much my dear old Thunder loved Rhonda, she met him when he was 10 yrs old and together we saw him through bladder cancer. No matter how hard it was for him, when Rhonda showed up every week, Thunder was like a little puppy, he was all over her and I mean that literally. She always left covered in dog fur. When we said goodbye to Thunder, Rhonda took it as hard as we did, coming over that week and for several weeks after he was gone, was very difficult and very quiet.
Several years passed and the three of us grew very close, Rhonda never saw us as different and treated us like she would treat any married couple, and we treated her like a sister. It wasn’t Goodwill that kept us together any longer, it was our friendship.
Eventually Rhonda fell in love too, she finally found someone who treats her well, with the kindness and love she so deserves. Unfortunately her husbands job required them to move out of state several years ago. I can’t tell you how much I miss the weekely visits and chores we did together. We still talk, we share things on Facebook, but it’s just not the same. I’ve been on the list with goodwill for two years now, but I know I will never find another Rhonda, not even close.
She quit smoking months ago (YEA!!) but I think if you look real close you can see the cigarette in her hand.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi,
I’m new to blogging and getting my own polymer clay art out there. Even though I do a little of everything, I’d still like to connect with like-minded artists. I also have a disability and this art has really helped me cope. I lost my son to DiGeorge Syndrome and it’s been my secret therapist. I found your blog uplifting and hope that we can connect as artists and learn a little bit about each other. Maybe we can even help one another out in this internet world.
I also have twitter: themontanamuse
Hope to hear from you,
Apryl