By Judie Henry, July 2019. Judie is a dear friend of Nancy Kidd’s
through their mutual love of the written word.

Kitty came into my life when I was about 5 years old, a gift from my parents. She is knit with gray yarn, 10 inches high, and she wears a timeless red and white polka dot dress with red rick-rack trim, and she’s blessed with an ever-present, loving smile. 

She has made all our moves with me, from Minnesota to Wisconsin and North Carolina. For the past 25 years or so she has resided in our master bedroom armoire, a perfect spot for us to acknowledge each other every morning.

Recently I was wondering why Kitty, a stuffed toy, would be special enough to me after 70 years that I still have her in my possession. My best guess is that when I was a child, she provided comfort: she was in my hand at bedtime in the dark, during sick time, ordinary times, bewildering times.  It seems to make sense to hang on to that loyal friend for the journey; she provided security for me in a tangible way.  

Security. Certainly something we long for, no matter our age. 

As a child, I had to learn how to navigate in the world beyond Kitty, in daylight and in darkness. When leaving our house, one of the most reassuring thing to hear was Mom’s expression, “I’ll leave the light on for you.” 

Those words instill confidence that you’ll be welcomed back. 

Additionally, and perhaps a recognition that comes with age, is the implication of an open-ended invitation, one without expectations; there’s an offer of both hospitality and a refuge from the world.

I’ve been blessed to have many persons in my life who have been both a light for me and “left the light on for me.” I hope that I, too, have provided a light and a sense of security to others, to be my version of “Kitty” for them.

A native of Minnesota, Judie now splits her time between Minnesota and North Carolina. She has written freelance feature articles for a local newspaper in Minnesota as well the alumni magazine at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Focusing on essays for the last 15 years, she enjoys the mental and creative challenges of writing for pleasure.