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COLUMN BY MATT PRANGER |
Previous columnsList of columns written by Matt Pranger | |
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Hazel Lawson’s smile lit up Friday Harbor
posted 04/24/04
While filling up my Dr. Pepper, I overheard bits of owner Linda Widmayer’s phone conversation. She was telling the person on the other end of the line that someone special had died on Tuesday. The person, a "she," was a regular customer and was in her 80s. Right then, in my heart, I knew it was Hazel Lawson, 85. I hoped Linda wasn’t talking about her though. In a rare case of denial (not a healthy attribute for a journalist), I didn’t ask Linda or her husband Kevin what had happened.
A few hours later, I learned Hazel, Friday Harbor’s Sweetheart, had indeed died. She was sitting in her usual spot at Vic’s and collapsed. "It probably was a massive stroke," a friend said. My heart clunked onto the floor and rolled into a dark closet. That Hazel’s death troubled me so much is a testament of her significance. Dealing with death is part of a journalist’s job and I’ve written or edited numerous obituaries about many wonderful islanders. Hazel spread more joy than any of them. For years, I saw Hazel at Vic’s or walking about town but didn’t become acquainted with this cheery lady until I started working as a Town of Friday Harbor parking enforcement officer. Joyce Gaylard introduced me to Hazel during my training nearly four years ago. I often ate lunch with Hazel during my six months patrolling Friday Harbor’s streets. Even after I moved to a new position I often ate lunch at Vic’s, often at Hazel’s table or an adjacent one. Hazel would greet me with her infectious grin and say, "How are you Matt?" I’d say, "Pretty good" or something similar. And I’d ask her, "How’re you doing Hazel?" She’d reply, "I can’t complain. It doesn’t do any good anyway." A lot of people say those sentences but few live up to it. Hazel did. She was always positive. Hazel greeted everyone with a glowing smile. Her smile would pick me up every time I saw it. And it was especially appreciated after sitting through a contentious land-use hearing, being chewed out by tardy motorist, covering a criminal trial or just tuckered out. Hazel shared her joy of life with any one who passed by. She made children lose their apprehension and giggle. Adults chuckled at her jokes. Even talking about the weather with Hazel was comforting. "She was kind of a simple person but did so much for so many," Joyce said. "Hazel, your heart was bigger than your body," Kevin said. Birthdays brought out the best in Hazel. She would play "Happy Birthday" on her harmonica and to the delight of the youngest and oldest birthday boy or girl. "Birthdays won’t be the same without her," Kevin said. I also cherished Hazel for something she didn’t do: I never heard her criticize anyone. "I never heard her say a disparaging word about anybody," said Kevin, who served her breakfast and dinner daily. Hazel was apt to say, "She’s so sweet." Or, "He’s so nice." Hazel couldn’t have scripted her ending on this planet better -- she was sitting in her favorite spot with good friends. Kevin said she stayed later than usual that day. "She went the way she wanted to go. She just did," Joyce said. It will be a long time before I stop scanning Vic’s booths for the sweet, little, silver-haired lady. I’ll always be amazed at what she accomplished with her smile. |
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