By Abe Villarreal
There’s a lady named MaryAnn. She has red hair, big eyes and a familiar smile. When I see her, a warm feeling takes over. She’s there, there where she is meant to be.
There’s a lady named MaryAnn. She loves arts and crafts. Always has. When someone asks her for help, she jumps at the opportunity to share her passion. Buttons, yarn, scissors, they are her favorite things.
There’s a lady named MaryAnn. You can find her wearing a blue vest with a bright yellow light. It shines bright because she lets it shine. When someone approaches, she turns on every time.
For more than 15 years, MaryAnn has proudly called the arts and crafts section of Wal-Mart her corner of the world. You have to walk all the way to the back of the store to find her. Somehow she is always there. Waiting by the flowers and the bright patterns that make you happy.
There’s a lady named MaryAnn. She loves to create things for her customers. She doesn’t make the final product, she creates the idea. It’s hard to create ideas and that’s why we need people like MaryAnn.
In a world where it’s easy to find do-it-yourself projects online, there are many recipes for creativity at your fingertips. Still, nothing can replace MaryAnn. If you need glue, she’ll get you the right kind of glue for the right kind of surface. If you need tape, she’s there to share her wisdom and experience so you leave the store with exactly what you need to make magic.
There’s a lady named MaryAnn. Her life’s work has been in the service industry but she’s actually an entrepreneur. She’s a creator. She creates moments. When her customers go home they make her ideas reality. Knitting, cutting, gluing and taping, what you are making is possible because of her willingness to share.
Several organizations in our community have benefitted from MaryAnn’s loving thoughtfulness. The local nursing home, elementary school children, Halloween party organizers, all are better off because MaryAnn was there by the flowers and the lace, like she always is.
When you want to give someone something nice on a special occasion. When you want to remember a dear friend or family member with a cheerful memento, MaryAnn is ready to listen to your story and join you in your journey.
This lady named MaryAnn. She’s something special. She’s a grandma, a neighbor, a storyteller and a friend. Thank you for helping make our life’s moments a little more memorable. Thank you MaryAnn.
Abe Villarreal is the Director of Communications at Western New Mexico University. When not on campus, he enjoys writing about his observations on marketing, life, people and American traditions.