Sometimes you meet people who are special in a way that others are not. Perhaps they are just more kind-hearted and generous than the average person you've met before. Perhaps they do good for others without asking for anything in return, and are very humble about their generosity. Such was the case with Paula. Paula was one of our local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) members and volunteers for a number of years.
Paula could bake the best cookies, brownies, and anything else with chocolate in it that anybody could bake on this planet. Her baked goods were all the rage, so eventually, she developed a business, "'Lil Pumpkin". 'Lil Pumpkin wasn't about making money for Paula. It was a way she actually raised money for our NAMI affiliate's Consumer Council, which I have been involved with for a few years. She raised money that helped some of us who live with mental illnesses to go to conferences.
She was not a wealthy woman. She had worked at Big Lots as as cashier for a long time. Before that, in her younger years, she owned a restaurant with her husband who has since passed away. At her restaurant, on the holidays, they say that she wouldn't let anybody go hungry whether they had the money to pay or not. Paula was that kind of human being. At Christmas time, she spent three months baking the goodies for the holiday party that was open to mental health consumers in the local area. I never got to one of these parties, but they are well-known as having been wonderful occasions to the consumers who enjoyed them. They were given Paula's baked goods, and she made sure that there was something for everyone. She had a heart for consumers, and wanted to help improve people's lives.
Paula took in one of my fellow consumer advocates to be her roommate eleven or twelve years ago - long before I met either of them. This man, who lives with Schizophrenia, had not had many periods of stability until he lived with Paula, and then they become attached at the hip, did things together all the time, and Paula looked out for him, making sure he took his medications and tried to help him avoid hospital stays like the many he had before he knew her. They had a very special bond, which was evident if you knew them at all.
About two weeks ago, Paula passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. The last time I saw her, which was unfortunately a few months ago, I asked how she was doing and she crossed her fingers and smiled at me. Paula always, always had a smile on her face. I have two pictures of myself and Paula on my computer, but I'm not comfortable putting a picture of myself on this blog right now, so I'll save those for myself. The pictures are from last year's annual NAMI banquet, where Paula won the Advocate of the Year Award and I won the Consumer of the Year Award. We were both very excited that night.
Today I went to a Celebration of Life service for Paula, where we looked at a Powerpoint show of pictures, and people gave speeches and about how she had touched them and enriched their lives. I cried at points. It was very sad for me to realize she was gone. In recent months, I haven't been involved with NAMI activities because I was having a hard time managing my school and job duties. So I sort of dropped out of the picture. And I didn't know that Paula was near death. If I had known, I would have tried to have visited her, or given her a gift of some kind, but there is nothing I can do about that now. So I gave the consumer who she was so close to a small gift: a candle that smells like homebaked cookies.
Paula will always be remembered and appreciated by our NAMI affiliate. She was a golden soul with a beautiful spirit. I will never forget her.
I added this picture from a pumpkin festival I went to with my mom the day after Paula's memorial service. Paula's nickname was 'Lil Pumpkin because she was five feet tall and one Halloween she wore a giant, inflatable pumpkin costume, and the nickname stuck.
Paula could bake the best cookies, brownies, and anything else with chocolate in it that anybody could bake on this planet. Her baked goods were all the rage, so eventually, she developed a business, "'Lil Pumpkin". 'Lil Pumpkin wasn't about making money for Paula. It was a way she actually raised money for our NAMI affiliate's Consumer Council, which I have been involved with for a few years. She raised money that helped some of us who live with mental illnesses to go to conferences.
She was not a wealthy woman. She had worked at Big Lots as as cashier for a long time. Before that, in her younger years, she owned a restaurant with her husband who has since passed away. At her restaurant, on the holidays, they say that she wouldn't let anybody go hungry whether they had the money to pay or not. Paula was that kind of human being. At Christmas time, she spent three months baking the goodies for the holiday party that was open to mental health consumers in the local area. I never got to one of these parties, but they are well-known as having been wonderful occasions to the consumers who enjoyed them. They were given Paula's baked goods, and she made sure that there was something for everyone. She had a heart for consumers, and wanted to help improve people's lives.
Paula took in one of my fellow consumer advocates to be her roommate eleven or twelve years ago - long before I met either of them. This man, who lives with Schizophrenia, had not had many periods of stability until he lived with Paula, and then they become attached at the hip, did things together all the time, and Paula looked out for him, making sure he took his medications and tried to help him avoid hospital stays like the many he had before he knew her. They had a very special bond, which was evident if you knew them at all.
About two weeks ago, Paula passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. The last time I saw her, which was unfortunately a few months ago, I asked how she was doing and she crossed her fingers and smiled at me. Paula always, always had a smile on her face. I have two pictures of myself and Paula on my computer, but I'm not comfortable putting a picture of myself on this blog right now, so I'll save those for myself. The pictures are from last year's annual NAMI banquet, where Paula won the Advocate of the Year Award and I won the Consumer of the Year Award. We were both very excited that night.
Today I went to a Celebration of Life service for Paula, where we looked at a Powerpoint show of pictures, and people gave speeches and about how she had touched them and enriched their lives. I cried at points. It was very sad for me to realize she was gone. In recent months, I haven't been involved with NAMI activities because I was having a hard time managing my school and job duties. So I sort of dropped out of the picture. And I didn't know that Paula was near death. If I had known, I would have tried to have visited her, or given her a gift of some kind, but there is nothing I can do about that now. So I gave the consumer who she was so close to a small gift: a candle that smells like homebaked cookies.
I added this picture from a pumpkin festival I went to with my mom the day after Paula's memorial service. Paula's nickname was 'Lil Pumpkin because she was five feet tall and one Halloween she wore a giant, inflatable pumpkin costume, and the nickname stuck.
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