Saying Goodbye is Hard

I am almost always singing the praises of the island I’ve called home for the last 32 years. However, there is a downside to being here that long, while getting to know so many wonderful folks along the way. The reality of being close to so many of these fine people comes with having to say goodbye when the inevitable time comes.

No, I’m not going anywhere quite yet, but last week I had to say a sad goodbye to a woman I’ve come to know and respect. Barbara Prigge was one special lady, whose life and times I’ll never be able to do justice for with words. I’m really pleased I don’t have to, for her accomplishments over the years will certainly speak volumes as to her contributions to this community and the family she so loved.

Perhaps you saw her driving her special tractor, as she and her husband tended to the many vacant lots across the island that were under their watchful eye. You might have also run across her as she was looking after family or parishioners of the San Marco Catholic Church that may have been in need. 

Over the years, you may have also seen her working diligently on her front yard while preparing for another holiday celebration. That woman was a human dynamo. Whether it was Valentines Day, the 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course, Christmas, she would never miss a holiday.

During my 17 years associated with Christmas Island Style I had the privilege of working alongside her and she never ceased to amaze me. The years we were able to bring snow to the island or have young and old lace up ice-skates, she was always there to help. During those times she’d bring large cutout caricatures for kids and adults to poke their faces through and have their pictures taken.

When I thought she couldn’t put anything more on her lawn at Christmas she would borrow some of our older angels and that are put out on the medians and screw in a number of colorful bulbs to brighten up the lawn that she and her wonderful husband Lou took so much care in.

At Halloween, children would tug on their parents’ arms, asking when they could drive through the scary house near the Jolley Bridge. I really think that Walt Disney himself would have been in awe of the animated character collection that could be found popping out at you as you drove through their driveway. I even think LCEC would look forward to these holidays as the meter on their house must have spun so fast it would have made A.J. Foyt and Dale Earnhardt stand in awe.

At the close of Barb’s services, Father Tim and I had the opportunity to speak about the woman who I thought was the female version of the Energizer Bunny. During that quick exchange, I told him how hard it was becoming for me, after being here for 36 years and getting to know so many wonderful folks, to say these sad goodbyes. He nodded his head in agreement and softly said, “This is a tough one.” I thought that was one of the highest compliments he could give to the woman we were saying goodbye to.

Her church served as Barbara’s extended family and her devotion to it was no better demonstrated than by her work to become one of the founding members of the San Marco Catholic Church’s Columbiettes, an organization that has done so much good on and throughout the island. You’ll see them standing proud in support of the Knights of Columbus as well as their involvement in their own many causes.

The anguish felt because of the loss of their founding member could be seen in the faces of many of those special women who shared Barbara’s love for the institution known as the San Marco Parrish on that sad Thursday when she was laid to rest.

A successful community is made up of these types of wonderful folks who we meet along the way of our own personal journeys. Women like Barbara and her husband Lou are the backbone of what makes Marco such a special place. We are so lucky to have individuals such as the two of them touching our lives on a daily basis.

As I approach the Jolley Bridge, now I will cast a glance towards the Prigge house, and if I’m lucky I’ll have one of those special memories of this wonderful woman dart through my mind. I might even see her straightening up one of her special decorations she took so much care in propping up like a leprechaun over Saint Patrick’s Day or a bunny and even an angel or two as Easter approaches. 

I can only say thank you to her husband Lou, Crystal and Steve, as well as Will and Marilyn and all the rest of her great family for loaning her to us for the short time that I and so many others knew her. It was a privilege and a pleasure to have known you, Barb.