Portrait of Carolyn

Paint her skin a rich, latte brown, glowing from within with vibrant health, vitality and love. Paint her cheekbones a bit high, a remnant of her “some Cherokee” ancestry. Paint her nose as “dainty,” and paint her teeth as even and white as snow and in a beautiful wide taupe smile.

Those eyes of hers would have to be painted by a Rembrandt to capture the dancing fun, love and passion sparkling within them. Dark, deep pools of liquid life gaze into your own eyes when you meet Carolyn. Topped by delicately arched brows and fringed with thick lashes, those eyes tell you what she is thinking before her mouth speaks.

Carolyn had literally fought for her life all her thirty-five year portion of it when I met her. She was the product of an abusive, neglected childhood, and, feeding on her own goals and her own dreams fought her way out of the ghetto. Realizing the importance of education to her goals, she obtained an education herself, without a proud mama or daddy to encourage her onward.

Paint two beautiful young sons beside Carolyn in this portrait. When I met her, she possessed a great determination to set a good example for them, provide them with a first-class education, and see to it that they got off to a good start in life. She was a good mom – strict, fair and loving.

She ran her end of our partnership honestly, ethically, and with a style that I could have never achieved. Our office was a beehive of activity. Phones ringing, clients and caregivers coming and going, and vendors bringing wares – that office was a hub where, seemingly, all gathered.

Paint Carolyn reigning over it all, grace and beauty with every movement. She never forgot a face, a name, or a story. She helped all who approached her for help, and sent those away who needed to be sent away. She was regal. She was royalty. She was the undisputed Queen Angel of Angel Team.

The reader might ask: Where was I, the other Angel Team partner, during all this? I was happily and comfortably “on the road,” building and expanding our territory. Put the windows down, turn the radio up, and I was in my element! As Outreach Director, I visited every wide-spot in the road in southern Arizona, introducing them to Angel Team. Carolyn and I each had our job and performed it well. It was good to be us.