A Brentwood celebrity passed away recently just shy of her 17th birthday. Nearly blind and deaf, she “had few teeth left” and severe arthritis. “But she never lost her sweetness and love of affection,” wrote her mom, Brentwood Realtor Cheryl Ballesteros.

For years, Jingle Bell adorned the marketing postcards Cheryl sent to her clients almost every month. I’m pretty sure that dot had more outfits than the biggest clothes horse in Brentwood. And every time one arrived in the mail, I couldn’t help but smile.

In a letter she sent to friends and customers last week, Cheryl shared the story of how Jingle Bell came into her life and how she got her name. “She was a Christmas gift to me from (my husband) Sam during a sad time after losing both of my parents. When given to me, she wore a little bell and Jingle Bell seemed appropriate. She was about the size of a mouse weighing approximately 8 ounces.

“Through the years, we have suffered a lot of loss from our parents, my sister Linda, friends and other family members who have passed on. She brought me joy, and I so enjoyed sharing her in all my newsletters and postcards.  I have been told so many times that she made a special imprint on so many other people’s lives. Countless ill patients have shared with me that seeing Jingle Bell in her bikini pictures made them laugh out loud. She helped many get through chemo and was greeted with that picture that they hung in the treatment room.

“She has always been a constant comfort for me, but how comforting to know that she did in fact bring a smile to so many.”

I’m going to ask Cheryl if she will share some of her favorite pictures for me to share with those who never had the pleasure of receiving one of Cheryl’s postcards over the years. Check back, and in the meantime, keep Cheryl and her family in your prayers.

Water moccasins not wanted here
The Go To Place for Everything Brentwood? It seems that Brentwood Home Page is living up to its tagline. Now even the people in charge of the city are seeking our help.

On Friday, I woke to find an email from City Manager Mike Walker. Seems a snake had been photographed near the city’s southern border with Franklin and there was some concern it might be a water moccasin, which typically isn’t found in these parts. He asked if I knew anyway to confirm what type of snake it is. No one on city staff was qualified to make such an ID, he wrote.

“If confirmed, we will need for you to advise folks to ‘keep their eyes open’ around our limited water sources. Hopefully, they are already aware of copperheads and rattlesnakes in the environment here. Our open space and low density development is also perfect for wildlife too.”

Lord knows I’m not a snake expert, but I knew where to find one. So I emailed Jim Bartoo at the Nashville Zoo to see if he and the zoo staff could help.

“Hello Ms. Leathers,

"That is a common water snake. Not venomous but somewhat temperamental. Good at keeping your rodent populations in check," he emailed back.

Always happy to help the city  and our readers. Anyone need help with anything else?

We’re here to serve.

Susan Leathers is editor of Brentwood Home Page. Click here to read previous columns. Email her at susan@brentwoodhomepage.com