I took my time looking for someone today. Back in Windermere its a little quieter, Clearwater Beach offered so much more diversity! Nonetheless there are plenty of people about here with incredible stories I just have to find them.
I’m sat on a bench drinking my latte, watching the world go by thinking about who to ask. Sometimes thinking is the worst thing to do, it stops me approaching people, I think about how many men versus women in the project, older people in ratio to younger, I’m sure no one else is paying attention.
There’s a little clothing store for children in front of me, I worry about disturbing people at work but its small and probably quiet as it is lunchtime so I go in and manage to grab a few cute things too..any excuse.
Theres a very young lady working behind the counter, very young, I worry that she may be under 18 so unable to talk to me (unless parents are present) turns out she is over 30 so clearly I need some of what she is having.
She looks straight out of High School, I tell her this, the sort of girl that comes over to babysit your kids and brings her book bag full of homework. Her long brown hair normally curly, she tells me, is tucked behind one ear. She is rightly proud of her lovely long hair, it’s her thing and she won’t be cutting it anytime soon if ever.
The store belongs to her, its her 2nd baby, the first, her son Kayden, is in daycare. A new venture and she is obviously working hard, it’s lovely, I wish it was looking busier for her today.
Name: Kelly
Occupation: Proprietor Kelly And Kayden Childrens Boutique
1.Where were you born & raised?
Orlando, Florida
‘I have a twin sister, My mum was always a single mom and my grandmother raised us a lot and my aunt helped raise us too, we were the only two for probably 8-10 years and then she had another little boy, she got married and everything.’
‘Having a twin is like having your very best friend, like you always have somebody there for you. Later in life in becomes more of a bond because no-one can separate you.’
‘As far as my Grandmother and my Aunt raising us we had the most fun that we ever could have. She would take us fishing and we would have these little adventures all of the time.’
2. Tell me a childhood memory.
‘In school, kindergarten..I had this teacher who had the longest brown hair, it was as long as she was tall and we had these three wheeler trikes that we would ride around on.’
3. What is your favourite season and why?
I was born in August so I love the heat and love not having to wear multiple layers, I love being out in the sun and getting to hang out on patios for brunch, anything outdoors.’
4. Tell me about someone you love.
‘My Aunt Gina is probably the most spectacular person in the World. She has such a bright spirit to her, her laugh is incredible, I actually play it sometimes as I have it on my phone. She helped raise me probably from High School age till I was young adult. I did separate from my Mom. My Aunt took me in as her own, she never had any kids so it was fulfilling for her in a way. My Aunt had suffered from some depression, she had alopecia so I think me being with her helped her through that, I never knew at the time. My Mother and I separated for over seven years from the age of about 14, we didn’t communicate or talk in that time, I kind of disowned her completely.
My Grandmother has a beautiful spirit and my Aunt so I have always felt like I have this beautiful light with me.’
5. What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life?
‘To smile everyday, I think thats the most beautiful thing that you can wear on your face. To be nice to people, I think everybody is beautiful. Treat them like your best friend.’
6. Dreams for the future?
‘My future dreams are to launch my new store and make it the best shop in Windermere and a destination for people to come too. Also to raise my son in here so he gets to know my passion and to learn hard work too.’
I’m so glad Kelly had her Aunt and her Grandmother, she loves them very much it is so obvious the way she talks about them.
So many stories of broken childhoods, it makes me very sad and reflective. I ask my daughter in the car as I drive her to her ‘Tap’ class..’If someone asked you about your childhood what would you say?’ ‘Do you feel loved?’ ‘Are you happy?’
She says we have ‘had our moments’, well she is a teenager, but she feels loved, very, and her childhood has been a good one.
Thats the best job in the World isn’t it? To make sure we let our kids know we love them, so they grow to become loving adults and feel secure in themselves.
Kelly was a true ‘American Sweetheart’, pure and sweet looking, I imagine her cute family together, husband, son, all of them out fishing in the sun. It’s that simple, its not complicated but moments like that in life are really all we want or need, it’s those loving moments that make us happy.
