Local Danvers Beauty Needs Our Help! Part 1 By Jim Morrocco

Local Danvers Beauty Needs Our Help!

Look at how she looks at us, as we walk by her daily. Look at how she watches, as so many drive by her weekly. You must have seen her, too. She’s been there for years, for decades. For as long as I can remember, there she was. Few could miss her. While walking by, pausing to greet neighbors and business folks alike, people have noticed her. Or simply while approaching the intersection of the square, many have turned their heads to see her. It seems she has been there forever, always standing near the center of town, always in the same spot. She’s still there and still loves that spot, and so proud to be there.

She truly is a Danvers beauty. Few with open eyes who have ever glanced in her direction could disagree. Lovely would be a great word to describe her…, forever stylish, fashionable in a nostalgic kind of way, always tastefully dressed. Her special kind of beauty and style is classic and timeless. One cannot deny it has always been clear that she has taken great pride in looking her best. To many she has been and still is a model for others to follow. How lucky we have been to have her grace our town… and so close to our downtown. And she has a proud town lineage that provides great value and recognition. She can trace her family history in Danvers 120 years to 1894. How wonderful is that?

For a long time now, she has been a successful working girl, sought after, requested by many, devoting her life to our town, our community, to St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Parish she calls home, to her neighbors, and the many visitors to our town. She has loved us all, asking nothing in return. Over the years, so many have come to love her, too. They still do.

It’s hard to deny the value she has brought to the town just with her recognized presence. She is one of those lucky few who have become a symbol of value since the day she appeared... a reminder of gracious living, community service and timeless giving. In a wonderful way, she has been a gift, a true gift to all of us who call Danvers our home. And in so doing, her value and recognition is worth crossing town, county and state boundaries.

She takes her place among so many other worthy ladies and gentlemen who have brought years of pride to our town, our state and beyond. While others hold an equally recognized stature in their own towns and cities, there are relatively few exactly like her. And because of that honor, she can easily be thought of as a treasure to hold on to, locally and nationally. If there were a national hall of fame for gals like her, there she’d be… her picture, proud and true… hanging from the rafters.

Yes, many of us, whether vocal or silent, regard her as a jewel to Danvers, very deserving of our affections and protection..., a rare pearl in the hearts of those who know and appreciate the fine combination of beauty, usefulness and value. Yes, after all these decades of being with us, she has never lost her luster. She has always been well-recognized and well-loved. She still is. That hasn’t changed.

Time is marching on for her though. She’s not as young as she once was, but even that has added an undeniable charm to her. Age has a way of catching up to us all. And she is no exception. But like many of us, we try our best to wear our age gracefully, with pride and dignity, and with a spirited, outward appearance, as best we can for as long as we can.

When I saw her recently, I was in awe once again at how great she still looks. When you see her next… do notice, too. Daily, weekly, as you pass by she’s still at her favorite spot… a little older, but still ever so lovely. Like a fine bottle of vintage wine, she’s aging well. To look at her after all these years one can smile at how well preserved she is. There is still a striking resemblance to her youth. You should see her in photos of her younger years. She hasn’t changed much, as the years have rolled by. She was a beauty then and she’s a beauty now.

Like many of us, as we age, we could do with a bit of sprucing up at times, maybe a change in diet, an outer limb repair, perhaps an inside replacement part or two, or just a newer outfit may do it. She may be older, much older than many of her neighbors, but she still possesses that stately charm and grace that has become her signature look all these years later. She’s still a beauty with a spirit unmatched by many in town. Like her, those of us whose years are catching up might envy that, hoping the years will be as good to us, as they’ve been to her.

She was a consummate professional in her day, greeting many folks and giving them her best. Many have appreciated her business skills and social style, chatting about how wonderful they were and how wonderful they felt when doing business with her. Her known kindnesses and sensitivities have resonated with many who have worked with her through the years. It was her job to connect compassionately with everyone, and she loved it, and did it well. And because of her unique presence and the value she has always provided, many have sought her out and she never turned anyone away. She has always been there for townspeople. And she was devoted to St. Mary’s parishioners and their church. It gave her purpose in life to comfort so many. And it warmed her heart to know how well parishioners and townspeople alike appreciated her.

And because of her now incredible age, she has watched many folks leave this world before her, always offering their loved ones genuine comfort in times of sadness. Tall and lovely, she has always been so proud to be of use to so many good people in need of her. She won’t ask for it, but she deserves our respect, admiration and attention.

However, life has changed for her now with something she didn’t ask for, something she didn’t expect and something she doesn’t deserve. Always unselfish, she never wished for anything from us. She never expected anything for herself. But now she has been dealt a hand that she doesn’t understand nor ever asked for… a hand she doesn’t know how to play, and it’s time for us… for all of us… to step up to the plate and help her.

If you don’t realize it yet, now in her later years, though she still looks so wonderful on the outside, she can no longer provide for herself. She’s alone and frightened and unable to speak for herself. She has no living relatives nearby and she has no one close to her to turn to for help. She needs us... every one of us. We mustn’t let her down.

Sadly, ever so sadly, she is under the care of an unsympathetic guardian who has the legal right to end her life. Shockingly, many of you may still not know that her guardian’s motives for taking her in are anything but kind, caring or honorable for her or our town. She fears her end is coming and she will not survive. Legally, our hands are tied. But morally, we can try to do so much to convince her guardian to nourish her, and recognize and appreciate the value she brings. We must try to prevent this sinful wrong-doing. This guardian does not seem to want to value the voices, pleas or opinions of many parishioners or townspeople who love this beauty, who are grateful for her value to the neighborhood and all of Danvers, and don’t want to lose her.

Clearly, so many recognize that there is a moral responsibility here to benefit the greater good of all..., a benefit that renders itself far more important that one guardian’s limited and poorly planned goals that benefit just a few. This is a basic and simple-to-understand fact. Is it not? Why doesn’t this guardian understand it? Or could it be more the fact that this unsympathetic guardian has such little vested interest in our town, that destroying a valued and much loved symbol of our history is of little to no significance to anyone, and is not worthy of saving for all..., as the balance of loss vs. gain is examined? If true, is that not arrogance at a level not to be believed? You be the judge.

There’s a choice here to be made, to do the honorable thing and save her and gain benefits for all… or not. But if an imbalance of loss prevails, and it certainly may very soon at the hands of this out-of -town guardian and the Archdiocese of Boston..., what long term negative affect will it have on the parish, neighborhood home owners and town?

You might want to think about that.

This article to be continued... Jim Morrocco