Blog 639 – 05.21.2017
Michelle, My Belle, A Tribute

Michelle is a name that comes from the Hebrew meaning, “Like God.” Wow, now there is a name to get our tongue and mind around and a girl to get our arms and heart around. Most of us have known a goddess named Michelle. Paul McCartney, sang of his when he and I were both young men, “Michelle, My Belle.” Today, I would like to pay tribute to not only a particular Michelle, but to all Michelles everywhere, and to all the goddesses out there even those who are unaware that goddesses they truly are.

When I first met my Michelle she was a little girl but already a favorite of her Aunt Linda, my wife. I remember well a favorite story Linda liked to tell about Michelle. With her beautiful long dark hair, dark eyes, and caramel complexion even a very young Michelle captured strangers eyes and mesmerized them. Her Mama got lots of, “Oh, what a pretty daughter you have (s).” When she took toddler, Michelle shopping with her. One day in particular, Michelle with her beautiful eyes was sitting in the shopping cart and a lady stopped and look long enough at her that a beautiful but bugged, very confident, and quite outspoken, Michelle uttered loudly enough for everyone around her to hear, “And what are you looking at?” The lady left in a huff taken quite aback by not only Michelle’s beauty but her boldness. That is our Michelle, even as a child she was not afraid to speak her mind and let everyone know she was not going to be defined as just a pretty face. She is to this day still a very pretty face but oh so much more.

As a teen just a year out of high school she met a young man in South Carolina that quite captured her heart and she his. Her mom and dad had their hearts set on Michelle finishing college in Houston but she had other plans and so off to South Carolina she went. It was a huge and risky step for her and for several years she was shunned by her Houston family pretty much except for her aunt and I and we too were soon “personna non grata” for supporting Michelle in her bid for independence. When she and her beau walked the aisle to be wed in South Carolina Michelle’s mom and dad refused their blessing and attendance so she asked me to give her away, one of the highest honors I have ever received. I even got a new suit to look my best for Michelle’s big moment.

Alas, as is so often the case young love did not last and Michelle came home to her family in Texas and then her aunt and I did the penitence dance for several years till we too were accepted back into Michelle’s immediate family’s good graces. My son, but a boy at the time, has still not fully opened his heart to that part of his family, the shunning stung him so much. I knew I was a part of the family again when Michelle’s dad asked me to go to his vehicle and get the wedding license that he had forgotten for her second wedding so he could proudly give his daughter away to the wonderful man who has all these years since been the love of her life and the father of her children.

Michelle is still a beautiful girl and a wonderful mother. But then that true inner beauty has a way of always shining through, Girls. Take it from me, a looker at and a lover of beautiful women all of my life, there is a beautiful Michelle in all of you pretty ladies shining out and making this one if not the most beautiful world in all the Universe. In my humble opinion, the Bible’s creation story did get that right. God did indeed save the best for last. I salute all you lovely Michelle’s, French and otherwise. Australian men call you girls Sheilas but you are all Marilyn Monroe’s and Bridget Bardau’s to me.

Our Michelle was one of my daughter Emily’s favorites too. Uncle David loves you, Michelle, always has and always will. I am so glad you have your husband and two fine sons to love and adore you on a daily basis, nothing less than a goddess deserves. You make this world a sweeter candyland for all around you.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White