The next day, Philippa and I first went to see Betty Jean Knight. When Hibbard met her in 1967, he thought she was misnamed – Betsy fit better. Betty agreed, and she became Betsy to him the rest of his life. Today, Betty is the 2009 Seminole County Bus Driver of the Year. It’s not surprising because she can make anything fun.
When Philippa and I met Betty, I thought I knew Dad from the 16 years I did spend with him. But for the last two years of his life, I was in boarding school in Ocala, and then went away to college in Tampa. Betty was always there with Dad, listening to stories of his life, and discussing the news, and the Bible. As she put it, “He was deep in The Book – a wise child of God.” Her stories set history straight, and made a world I never knew came to life. King of Casselberry is better for it.
Like Dad, my mother, Martha, had stories to tell, though I heard them later from my cousins Joe Mattocks and Reen Mooney. Mom once asked me why I never asked her about her life. I guess I was too busy enjoying my own. If it was something I should know or she wanted me to know, I thought surely she would have told me. Wrong again.
Life is not always as it appears to be – nor is it how we think for our parents, grandparents, children, and friends. Next time you sit and talk with someone, ask questions. You never know the treasure chest you might open up.
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