I remember the day I met Colossa…snuggled in her colorful wooden house – between the doorway and a small gap near a bed, I spotted her…a thin, smiling old lady content with observing the children running like crazy in the streets. I peered through the gap which was quickly made larger by surrounding children and shook her chilly, frail hand. Her eyes told stories of generations that had walked and run in these streets. Asking her age, I nearly lost my breath as she sounded out the numbers with confidence – 109…WOW!
Over the next few weeks I would see Colossa from time to time and smile at her or say hello…until finally our final day in the Dominican Republic we had an opportunity to visit her again. My team had purchased a ridiculously large bag of candy to share with our kiddos and neighborhood friends. Everyone was running wild – strung out on sugar and sheer excitement. Blue tongues, green tongues, red tongues and such — were all around us – making the whole event quite comical. Walking by Colossa’s house, I watched her smiling at the kiddos and wondered to myself, “I wonder if she would eat a lollipop?” Without hesitating, I asked her, “Would you like one?” Eyes wide and a childish grin erupted immediately as she responded with a nod of the head. I ran across the street to retrieve a treat for her and returned with two blue raspberry suckers. Opening one I placed it in her mouth and watched as sheer delight flooded her entire face. She shook with joy and giggled as she closed her eyes and savored the taste.
This moment was priceless – a 109 year old woman eating a lollipop. Her tongue quickly turned blue and she wasted no time posing for a photo for me like the kids. She joined them in shouting “Ahhhhhhh!!!!!” and threw her arms up in excitement. I’m not entirely sure when the last time this lady had a sucker was, but I was blessed beyond words to witness this moment — and to see how at 109, she is still just like a child!
