The Woman Who Saved My Life

08-21-2025

A Childhood at Atlantic Beach.

Growing up, my parents had a tradition of renting a beach cottage each summer in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. The cottage, named The Seaweed, was situated right on the ocean. It has long since been torn down and replaced. It was a five-bedroom or more cottage, and my mother, both my two sisters, and some of their friends and I would stay at least a month. My father would join us on nights and weekends.

Buried Treasure.

I remember there being dunes across the street from the cottage and my sisters and I going on an adventure to bury a treasure chest, i.e., a place, an empty box of animal crackers with a toy inside and a note inside about how the person that found this treasure would be lucky or something to that nature. Anyway, I dug on top of the dune, buried the treasure box, covered it up, and found a large stick and planted it deep into the sand. The following year, we went on the hunt again, and I was amazed to see the stick still and recover the treasure!

Settling into the Cottage.

One year, when I was probably around five years old, I remember spending most of the day playing with Tessie, our housekeeper, who looked after me. Our trips always started with a full dresser being loaded into a company pickup truck at our home in Greenville. During the short one-hour and forty-five-minute drive, I sat in the cab with Marvin Mills, a trusted employee, who always brought me a bag of cream puffs from Jerry’s Sweet Shop.

Upon arrival, I would rush inside to be greeted by Tessie as the dresser was hauled to a second-story bedroom. The house was without air conditioning and had open windows with screens. After lunch, Tessie would escort me to my room for a nap. She’d sit in the corner, rocking gently in her chair, keeping a watchful eye over me. The constant sound of the ocean’s roar filled the air, and the wind would make the sheer curtains sway.

A Dangerous Window Escape.

One afternoon, as I lay in bed, I grew restless. The curtains billowed in the breeze, and I decided to make my own adjustments. I grabbed a pillow to prop against the curtain and the window screen. With a little push, the screen popped loose. Before I could understand what was happening, I was headfirst out of the window. I remember the sensation of falling, seeing the sandy path and the mica-laden rocks below. It was a terrifying moment.

Tessie’s Quick Thinking.

In an instant, Tessie reacted. She grabbed me by the ankles, pulling me back through the window just before I could fall any farther. I was upside down, my legs dangling in midair, but I felt safe in her firm grip. The shimmer of the path between the houses flashed in my mind as I was yanked back to safety. It was only later, when I was old enough to understand, that I realized Tessie had truly saved my life that day. Her quick thinking and steady hands kept me from disaster.

A Bond That Lasted.

Over the years, Tessie became more than just a caretaker. She was a steadfast presence in my life during those summers. Her vigilance and love were invaluable to me. Her actions that summer showed me the importance of trust, protection, and the power of quick thinking.  So, in closing, I want to thank you again, Tessie Mac Spell Foskey, I know you’re in heaven now, and I look forward to the moment I can again give you another hug and say thank you for looking after me.

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