Albina Brown

Today I went to the city tax collector's office to pay my taxes. I noticed the woman in front of me looked exactly like my deceased grandmother Albina Brown. The longer I stood in line the more I noticed her features: her gray hair was braided, she had a slender build but good posture. As a final point, she smiled just like my grandmother.

I could no longer contain myself and I said to the elderly woman, "Excuse me but you look just like my grandmother." I even pulled out my iPhone and showed the woman this picture of my grandmother with my daughter Candice (who is now 25) seated on her lap. The woman looked at the picture and said, "We sure do look alike!" She asked me how old my grandmother was and I informed her that she lived into her late 90's but that she was deceased now. I also let her know my grandmother was a great woman and I was happy that I was reminded of her by seeing you.

We exchanged smiles and I said God bless you as she left the room. I was so full of joy that tears welled up in my eyes. I even showed the tax collection clerk the picture and she agreed they resembled each other. I paid my taxes and with tears in my eyes I walked over to the car the woman had just boarded as a passenger. I showed the woman driver of the car the photo and she agreed the lady looked like my grandmother. She even said, "I think you have that same sweater in your closet!"

The driver said God bless you as I walked away wiping my face. I think we were all blessed by that exchange. I love you Grandma. You are missed by your family members and others that knew you. Tell a family member you love them before they have departed this life. And always treasure the memories. I make sure I do!