Tyrone....

posted by Patty James @ 4:55pm, Friday 16 April 2010.

So I see Tyrone earlier today in the lobby-not easy to miss. I'm a little over 5'7" and he is much taller and bigger than me, about my age, a little salt and pepper, 'how you doing?' kind of guy as he looks right at you and waits for a reply. Deep voice. Friendly. I am walking past in my usual fast pace, dogs in tow. I say hello this afternoon and keep walking.

An hour ago, same story, but he is standing there outside the lobby chatting with two older women who are smoking and drinking red wine out of plastic cups-from Boston, on a girl's weekend. He is comfortable with them. One of the women asks me what kind of dogs they are, so I stop and answer the question and stay and chat for 5-10  minutes, then start to walk. Tyrone asks if he can walk with me..something like...'Let's walk sweetheart.' (not really a question, was it?) Some women might be offended, for some reason I was not. Not even the fact that walking was indeed my plan, quite obviously, bothered me. As we walked I told him about how I was upset today (must I always, always tell everyone everything???) because of the neighborhood kids scowling at me. I told him that I felt they were judging me by the color of my skin and that I work with kids and their health and I don't care what color their skin is..blah, blah, blah...(I really need an off button.) He stopped, looked right at me and said, "Don't pay any attention to them. If they can't tell who you are just by being next to you, then you shouldn't allow them to upset you.' He smiled at me, I smiled back and we kept walking. He was heading into the store and I continued on. Coming from a black man, this exchange meant a lot to me. He didn't care what color my skin was and he knew I didn't care what color his was. He wasn't sure why 'these kids' would act that way. He gave me strength. Somehow I was blaming myself for their behavior and he made me feel like it wasn't me, it was them...so...

As I continued on on this gorgeous night, I actually stopped in front of some kids and almost made them stop to speak to me-a few did! Victory! I owe this to Tyrone.

They say people come into your life for a day, a season, a year or a lifetime. Tyrone was for the day and that day meant a lot to me.