My Daughter, My Role Model
Jewish Mom: Would It Kill You To Read This?
Stepping onto the runway at a fashion show was never on my bucket list. Quite the opposite. The thought of modeling voguish outfits in front of 200 people was terrifying. Never the exhibitionist, I always thought modeling was reserved for the young and the fearless – not for a self-conscious grandmother of three. Yet, there I was – heart pounding, knees shaking – making my grand entrance.
Why, you might ask, would I step outside my comfort zone? For two very good reasons. First, my fabulous daughter was also modeling. More importantly, she was being honored at the fashion show for her dedication to Jewish Pavilion Senior Services, a nonprofit organization that is an essential resource for our community’s seniors. Second, my granddaughter was also modeling. How could I possibly have her think her “Mamie” was a coward?
Usually children are in awe of their parents. To the contrary, I have been in awe of my daughter, Samantha Taylor, for many years. As my firstborn accepted her award, she shared a vivid childhood memory with the audience. Samantha spoke of my mom Helen, who suffered from dementia and had to be moved to a memory care community when our family could no longer provide the care she needed. My husband Michael, a pianist, was familiar with the community, having entertained its residents for many years. Samantha recalled going to visit Helen when Michael was singing and playing there. She talked of how the residents, sometimes barely able to speak, would sit up and often mouth the words to the old songs her dad was playing.
This, Samantha explained, was where she developed her compassion for the elderly. This was also the beginning of a journey that led her to serve on the board of Jewish Pavilion Senior Services and become its director of marketing. Samantha has always given so much of herself – her time, her energy, her compassion – and she continues to do so. That morning at the fashion show, the spotlight was deservedly on her.
At least, that’s what most everyone in attendance thought. My 12-year-old granddaughter Billie (Samantha’s daughter) was also one of the models. She sashayed down the runway with a confidence that was astonishing. Billie held her head high, smiled, and did a few twirls that elicited oohs, aahs, and quite a few laughs from the audience.
“Mom,” she told Samantha afterward, “you might have been the honoree, but I was the star!”
When it was my time to walk I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and told myself, “You can do this.” Fortunately for me, I have a wonderful group of friends who bought front-row seats. Their encouraging smiles and whooping cheers carried me into a different dimension. A quieter but no less enthusiastic group included my husband, his sister, and dozens of beautiful faces who were all there to support the cause and cheer us on.
Because this is a Jewish Mom column, please allow me a final kvell. It was not lost on me that Samantha pulled off something that morning that is quite unusual. She managed to be both a fashion model and a role model at the same time!
Sheila Kramer is the founder and owner of Lake Mary Life Publishing. Now retired, Sheila and her husband of 51 years live in Lake Mary. When asked, Sheila will say that her greatest accomplishments are raising two mensches and creating a company that has shined a light on the best parts of our community for more than 23 years.