Do y’all remember the Hallmark Movie article I wrote about? I wouldn’t think you would so I’ll refresh your memory. I was, and still am, obsessed with them. “Why am I asking?, you ask?”

Well because I just watched one on a beautiful Thursday afternoon.

It was your typical theme where everyone and everything is nice and pretty and smart and where the weather is perfect and the hot cocoa is always hot.

The ones I love the most are those when a damsel in distress is distressed and is magically rescued by someone from up above or someone who just so happens to live at The North Pole and has a workshop and a reindeer. Speaking of, I don’t care for a Mrs. Claus.

The main character’s name was Holly Berry, and she was going through a new and quite possibly last, or close to, phase of her life. She felt as though she had limited time left to do the things that once fulfilled her. She felt she had nothing more to contribute.

She felt invisible at times and spent her days pondering regrets and missing her children and her parents while eating a huge bowl of Blue Bell Milk Chocolate Ice Cream chased down with homemade macaroni and cheese,

When she was in the 8th grade her Math teacher, Mrs. Ellender, wrote on her report card, “Holly lacks confidence,” and she was right because Holly still leaves the room when the Monopoly game comes out in case someone gives her the banker job.

Then out of nowhere a voice whispered, “Your confidence is back, and part of your body that’s near something important is waiting for you to return. Leave the house, engage with others. Tell backwards to leave you alone, and listen to what forward has to say.”

Holly had been meaning to go to the small town’s art gallery to pick up a book for her granddaughter and just never got to it, but on this day, she did.

The second the old heavy door was pushed open she was greeted by a gray haired man behind the counter who looked like Santa Claus who just got back from the North Pole’s workshop.

She was a bit intimidated by him. She assumed he was smarter and worldly, and she was not.

Then Santa came from around the counter to help her. “I’m sure it’s somewhere,” he said, then called the owner of the gallery when the book magically appeared in an obvious spot we passed many times.

We both had a laugh, and thus began a beautiful conversation. He told Holly about his family and mostly his personal worries over his ailing wife.

Holly stood across the counter with watery eyes and a lump in her throat. Then there was a pause and he asked, “When are you going to write again?”

Shocked and dismayed and confused, she gasped and asked, “How do you know who I am?” “Everyone knows you, and tell me why you quit.” The conversation flowed like a quiet lake, and at the end, I thanked him for such a beautiful conversation, and Santa said, “And I thank you also,” with a face full of comfort and joy. She left with a full and grateful heart.

On her way back home the voice told her, ”You aren’t ready to go back just yet,” but she didn’t know where she was going because she felt as though there was no place to go since she was alone.

The voice persisted.

She sat alone in a local restaurant and watched the cars go by and read the children’s book in order to look busy and smarter and worldly until the owner said, “I’m so happy to see you here. I’ll come sit with you in a minute, and we talked about many things.”

“Why did you quit came up,” and It was a beautiful conversation with such an interesting man who reached out to me and reminded me that I just may still have something to say.

On her way back home, again the voice spoke to her. “It’s not time to go home yet,” so she walked toward an antique store across the street and suddenly, out or the clear blue had a love for it again.

It had been years since she did this but this day seemed to be different. Where did that come from, she wondered, and the voice said, “You loved this when your children were little. It brought you joy. It was something you enjoyed and looked forward to alone. It brought back your youth and your family memories and treasures.

Holly found memories in every corner she turned.

After running into a plethora of old friends and their children, she crossed the street to go home and the voice said once more, “There’s one more person you will speak to before you leave.”

She crossed the street and saw her old friend. A friend who makes her happy. A friend who has gone through sadness lately. They talked about the great old days we shared and we talked about everything we could come up with and made each other laugh, always a belly laugh, but more importantly, we made each other happy in the middle of an old parking lot.

Holly finally went home and commenced to writing about what she learned on that special day. She never dreamed there was anymore learning at this point in her life, but on this day, she learned that Interpersonal relationships teach us who we are. Surround yourself with people who give you joy, support, and comfort.

Why did did she quit?

She didn’t.

Holly took a hiatus like the movie stars do. The only difference is she stayed home instead of going to the Amalfi Coast to dine with George Clooney.

New Iberia, you are my favorite Hallmark Movie, other than and always will be, except for the fictitious town of Lake Wobegon Thank you to my new angels on earth, Michelle, Vernon, Jady and Suzy, for this beautiful and awakening day, and to the one up in heaven, my wise Daddy who Is the forever gentle voice in my ear and in my heart.

And to the real Holly Berry, you are not forgotten!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

PHYLLIS BELANGER MATA was born at the old Dauterive Hospital and grew up on Wayne Street. She is a 1974 graduate of Mt. Carmel Academy and is a chili dog “without the wiener” aficionado.