Miss Violet's Eyes

If you are ever lucky enough to meet Miss Violet Musick in person, I will wager to already know one of the first things you will notice about her. You will immediately be captivated by her eyes.

(Over my years I have learned to pay close attention to someone’s eyes. Even when dealing with some of the pathological liars I taught at the Bristol Jail, I learned to look “past their lies” by venturing deep into their eyes - as the eyes are the true windows to the soul.)

Miss Violet’s eyes literally “flicker” with what I call real beauty - the kind only found inside the eyes of a wise old soul, someone who has seen much, endured much, yet has continued to look for the good in all.

I have visited this dear lady of ninety-one years no less than four times now, my latest visiting being yesterday afternoon.

It all began a few years back, when I retired from writing my weekly column at the Bristol Herald-Courier - and began writing this one instead. Miss Violet wrote me a handwritten letter. In part it read, “I love your column and all the things you do for children and the needy in Bristol. If possible, I would love to meet you someday.”

Her words, as is always the case when she writes, were written in the most fantastically elegant cursive handwriting I might have ever laid eyes on (and I’ve seen a lot of pretty handwriting).

So I hopped in my car one day to go meet Miss Violet in person. She lives out on Goose Creek Road, in the bucolic countryside just north of Bristol Virginia. She and her husband and their young children moved here back in 1961.

Miss Violet is widowed now. Her beloved husband passed only about a year ago. She remains at home, still taking full care of herself.

I must add here that Miss Violet has cherished family living nearby who are quick to help her whenever she needs them, but this good lady says she wants to remain living independently for as long as she can. (Don’t we all?)