As many of you know, Verna Randall, better known as "Zebra Lady", passed away recently; a passing that has saddened anyone who ever saw her wrinkled, dentured smile. I wouldn't be surprised if I were right in assuming the only folks not saddened by this loss are those who have moved to town in the last four days.
Verna's husband used to have an old WWII motorcycle with a sidecar, a red sidecar - it looked a lot like the one in the movie "The Great Escape", only it was red - very, very red. Verna used to ride in the sidecar, and her husband would drive. I remember seeing the two of them cruising the main streets around town, Verna wearing that big, unforgettable smile. This, undoubtedly, is where her love of the open road was born. After her husband passed (she survived much of her immediate family, even her son) she could not quench her desire to feel the wind in her hair, so she bought that beautiful little red 1984 Honda that we all became so accustomed to seeing her ride, across town, up and over the hill, leaving a sparse trail of blue smoke in its wake.
Now as many of you know, I, Scotty Frush, aka Rock 'n' Roll Scotty, had a special scootery bond with Verna. Verna actually played a pivotal role in my having a scooter in the first place, as much of the money to buy it was a loan from her. I remember the summer of '93, mowing the yard at her big red house, and painting the inside of the apartment she owned and rented next door, working down the debt I owed her.
Some folks underestimated Verna, maybe because of her age, or maybe because she wasn't exactly threatening, she just looked like the sweetest old lady. But I remember later that summer, a family that had been renting her apartment next door, the one I had just painted, carried out a sneaky scheme. While Verna was at church one Sunday morning, they moved an entire, additional family into the apartment. How would she not notice that!? I pondered this. Verna didn't let it slide, she confronted them. She was a strict woman!
With conservative values - heck, she wouldn't even rent that apartment to an unwed couple! Verna taught Sunday school for 50-something years at Dutchtown Brethren Church, and I can only hope she inspired generations to come with her values and teachings. This gives me hope.
When I get to heaven someday I know I'll see Zebra Lady there, and when I do, I hope she has that little stuffed animal zebra tied to the front basket of her scooter, and despite having new and perfect eyes I hope she still has her big striped glasses on. What I don't have to hope for, because I know to be true, is that she'll still be wearing that unforgettable smile.
Rest in peace, Verna, you were one of Warsaw's finest icons.
