To My Neighbor In the Pink Tutu

I had made peace with possibly being homeless. Or so I thought. My mind was unrelenting in her accusations and I was losing the battle and will to try.

2020 was a tough year for everyone mentally, spiritually, and financially. We lost a lot and are still picking up the pieces from it.

At the beginning of 2020, I was broke, out of a job, and dealing reeling from my father's dementia diagnosis. I was burnt out and incapable of mustering whatever energy was expected of me. But rent and bills don't care.

It was a cold January and rent was due. I had dreaded this day. I dreaded the thought of telling my landlord that I might not be able to make rent. I had approximately $30.00 after paying for hydro and the internet. Whatever funds I had was going to feed 2 adults, a child, and a cat.

Night after night, I cried and prayed hard for a miracle. But when morning came, nothing had happened. I couldn't stall anymore. I texted my landlord and asked him for time to scrounge for rent. I asked anyone that would help, swallowing whatever pride I had left. I was here now, living a life I had never imagined.

Everybody was in a bind. Finances were tight. They also had rent and bills to pay. Some were even supporting extended family back home suffering from the covid upheaval. Yet they gave what they could. But I was ashamed and I was angry. Angry at myself for being a 'failure' by my standard, angry at God because the life I dreamt of was nowhere close to how I was living. I was in a mentally dark place and wanted to escape.

Time ticked away like it usually does. I gathered part of the rent but I was still short. So I reached out to a former neighbor for help. What she did next made me cry. After I told her about the issue. She merely asked, how much do you need. I told her how much I needed and she said "I will give you $1000."

You see we were ex- neighbors. We met on a hot summer's day in 2016. We (my sister, nephew, and I) had just moved into a new apartment and were settling in nicely. We didn't know anyone in the area, but that was okay because we had each other. One day out of the blue, there was a knock on the day. I don't remember what I was wearing when I opened the door, all I remember seeing when I opened the door was an elderly lady with silver hair, glasses, a bra, and a pink tutu standing at the doorway. We both laughed at how ridiculous the scene was.

"I am not a weirdo or anything", She explains, "I am your neighbor and I live alone so I have no one to help me with my tutu zipper." We both laughed again and I obliged. She tells me she is attending the pride parade downtown and the tutu and bra began to make sense. We talk shop as I attempt to do up her zipper. To be honest, I don't remember the entirety of that conversation, all I remember thinking was, how nice she seemed and how hilarious the whole situation was.

After that incident, we'd exchange pleasantries when we met, but nothing too deep. She always had a smile on her face which was always lovely to see. When we moved to a new place, we made passing comments about keeping in touch. But I never put much stock on it as I chalked it up to passing formality.

This is why her generosity astounds me to this day. I honestly never imagined that a neighbor would be my saving grace in my hour of need. When I picked up the phone and made that call, the least I expected was to be redirected to centers that could offer some help. Never did I imagine her offering to help in such a way. I cried because, just when I thought we would quite possibly be homeless, she did what seemed impossible in my eyes. When I felt hopeless with no way out in sight, she showed what pure, unadulterated kindness is.

When I asked her why she told me "because someone did the same for me. When I was having trouble, my friends helped me and supported me while I got back on my feet"

She to me is an example of the many silent heroes that have risen in the wake of this chaotic world. She reminded me, that as much as we feel alone in our struggles, we are not alone that there are helpers along the way rooting for us. And though we may not be able to repay their kindness, we can pay it forward, in whatever way we can.

So to my neighbor in the pink tutu (and all the other people: strangers and friends alike) who extended a helping hand and showed true kindness. Thank you. You truly are a testament to the best in humanity.