Heartwarming letters about my column show that sometimes, at least, I get it right | Opinion
When I am writing a column, I often wonder how it will be received. I realize that not everyone will always agree with what I write. And that is fine with me. A healthy exchange of ideas works for me.
Sometimes, I get it right and write a column that nearly everyone can relate to, such as a column about what I have l earned along this journey of life. That’s what I wrote about in a column celebrating my 85th birthday.
In that piece, I wrote about wondering if I had been a good steward of the time given me here on earth. And I wrote about the importance of learning to have patience, with myself and others. Especially with my great-grandson Jaylen.
The response was simply overwhelming. I was nearly brought to tears at some of the messages from people who have followed my career almost to the day I started writing for the Miami Herald.
Through their letters, I learned that some of my readers save my columns. They even take the time to share them with family and friends who live in other cities and states. I cannot express just how much these kind gestures inspire and encourage me.
While there isn’t room enough to print all the letters from just my “birthday” column, I am sharing a few with you in this column. But first, I want to thank everyone who ever took the time to read my stories and/or columns over the years, and then took the time to write to me.
Here are a few excerpts from letters I recently received:
“Happy birthday to you! Although I’ve never met you, I consider you a friend because your columns always provide me with comfort and wisdom.
(By the way, I commiserate with you with regards to your great-grandson’s speech. My 12-year-old granddaughter’s talk is almost unintelligible for me. She talks so fast that to my decaying hearing a sentence becomes one very long word with no clearly discernible sounds).”
Leonardo Lopez
“Most things take longer to do now for me as well. Yes, each day is a gift. We don’t need a ribbon. Sometimes I say to my dearest lifetime friends, ‘How did we get here so fast?’”
JoAnn Fine
“May you be blessed with many more birthdays! You lived your dream of being a newspaper reporter and you are good at your job. The Lord has watched over you and lead you to success in your chosen field. I turned 85 last September and outside of some new aches and pains, I feel good. Blessings!”
Chaplain Tom Hanlon
“Dear Bea, may you continue to enjoy God’s blessings of life and love. Yes, you are a good and worthy steward. Love you and appreciate you.”
Madeliene Haddocks
“Dear Bea, on reflection of your birthday, I pulled out my file of your articles that I’ve saved and reviewed them. They are so inspiring, just as you are an inspiration to so many. Sharing your stories of your son Rick and your grandson Jaylen, and how faith has been a constant in your life. ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ (Hebrew 11:1).
You are a woman of faith. A role model for many of us. Thank you, Bea. God bless.”
Marilyn Brown
“… Thank you for your column in Neighbors and also your other excellent columns. Your material is a blessing. Wishing you a fantastic and wonderful birthday… mine was the ninth and I turned 77.”
Stephen W. Jenkins
(Note: Happy belated birthday, Stephen!)
“Have a happy, safe, and healthy new birthday year for yourself. Keep writing, keep loving, and in my opinion… you do get it right.”
JoAnn Franklin
“… On my mother-in-law’s 85th birthday, 10 of us female family members went to Las Vegas. We had such a wonderful time that I took my husband back there the next year. My mother-in-law also bought a Solara convertible at age 85. My husband inherited that car when she died 10 years later at 95. We call it [the car] ‘The Hoopty’ now…
I never miss reading your articles. You have a gift for bringing out the best in us. We need more of that…”
Susan R. Leavy
“Bea… you have always been an inspiring individual whom I greatly admire… May you continue to go from strength to strength. Thank you for all you have brought to South Florida and beyond.
Merle Saferstein
“… I loved the article about Dr. Dunn (Marvin), and feel terrible for all the professors who probably cannot wait until Gov. D. is history himself… You are a beloved and heroic member of the Herald staff. So keep up the good work.”
Celeste Muir
“Happy 85 to you! You are a light among us, and thank you… for sharing your stories and your life with us, your readers, and for your empathy for the Jewish community here in South Florida.” Karen-Janine Cohen
“… Years ago, I wrote you a letter as one of The Miami Herald and your column’s loyal readers… On this very special occasion I would like to thank you for your important work and express my feelings towards the content of your articles, your thoughts and the way you write about all subjects, especially the difficult ones — the social and political problems and events…
Despite all that is happening around you, you are writing so freely and to the point and courageous that my heart is growing with hope for this country…”
Marzena Schindler
“Mrs. Hines, I come to work every Monday looking for the Neighbors Section. Because I live in Broward, I get the paper through my job…
The very first article I read was on Thursday 7/15/2015 in Neighbors in Religion. The headline was, ‘Teach our babies not to hate from the start, How coffee and a doughnut turned around a white man’s view of a Black woman’…
I am 63 and had never heard about the killings of Harry T. and Harriette Moore, killed after a bomb went off under their bedroom in Mims, Florida. I’ve been reading your articles and saving them since 2015.
I would love to meet you.”
Dorothy Kindell
“Happy 85th birthday, Bea! I feel so fortunate to be able to get to know you through your weekly column… the first things I read on Sunday are the opinion pages and your column… Your wisdom, your insight, your faith, and your kindness are so refreshing and inspire me to emulate all the strong character traits you possess.
With all the craziness going on in the world, you teach me to forgive and have faith in people and to love them even if sometimes I don’t like their views or opinions. That is a hard one.
Thank you for being a blessing in my life and in so many others. I pray that I also continue to learn more each year, and inspire others, just as you have…”
Susan Barnes
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Bea L. Hines can be reached at bea.hines@gmail.com
READ MORE: ‘She paved the way.’ How a woman with big dreams broke barriers to tell Miami’s story.
