The Basket Lady

Time is fleeting. It hardly seems possible that the fourth anniversary of our dear departed Dot Sanchas has arrived and although our hearts grieve for her, we know that she’s in heaven right now kindly smiling down on all of her Rumford family and friends with love and gratitude.

In remembrance of Dot Sanchas, I’m dedicating this week's Basket Lady column to the impeccable Kindness Counts lady-the genuine heart and soul of kindness.

There wouldn’t be a Basket Lady if not for Dot Sanchas - my mentor and dear friend. We did our “secret” basket projects in the community for 14 years. She used to run me to death delivering baskets for her but I loved every minute of it.

Seldom does a day go by without someone coming up to me and earnestly recalling a kindness that Dot showed to them when no one else seemed to care at all.

Whenever I get the chance to visit with Dot Benedix, it’s a foregone conclusion that somewhere in the course of the evening tales abound about the baking escapades of the Dot and Dot bakers.

Basket Lady is blessed to have a friendship with Anne and John Kezal, two people who knew Dot Sanchas for many years. Sometimes I will get a handwritten Christmas letter from John and he’ll write about getting his friends at the Rumford Mill to buy toys and clothes for Dot’s annual Santa’s Helpers drive for children in need at Christmastime.

I’ve heard many heartfelt expressions of gratitude from numerous individuals and families about how thankful they were to Dot for helping them out when every one else turned them away when they most needed a helping hand.

This George Eliot poem comes to mind whenever I think of Dot Sanchas.

Making Life Worthwhile

Every soul that touches yours-

Be it the slightest contact-

Gets there from some good;

Some little grace; one kindly thought;

One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage

For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith

To brace the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies-

To make this life worthwhile; And Heaven a surer heritage.

Dot Sanchas, kind lady, we miss you every day. Until then, smile, live in the present and show someone a kindness today!