How does one get through a day like this? It started with me in fear of my own future as I looked forward to my first oncologist appointment. The middle of the day was great as I celebrated the encouraging news about my own future. Then…then…came the heartbreak…the call from her brother – his big sister, my oldest friend, had been hit by a car that afternoon – and had passed away.
The only thing I know to do now- is to try to share with you, who this woman was to me….
I don’t remember exactly how or when me met. Which I kind of like because it leaves the feeling that we have just always been friends. I have memories before she was my friend, but not many. I know I was about 8, maybe 9 at the time. I think we were in the same class in 4th and 5th grade. She got me in trouble for talking in class all the time – and of course it was always her fault! We played with our Barbie dolls together. We had hairbrush concerts with our beds for stages. We sang Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks and Wildfire by Michael Martin Murphy. She shared our crushes for David Cassidy and Donny Osmond. We rode our bikes together, we went to the corner store to buy candy for a dime. We played softball in the field, with the neighborhood kids. It was across the street from my house and just behind hers. We giggled over all the boys.
My childhood was kind of messed up. Her mom and dad, Bob and Sharon, kind of took me under their wing and tried to give me a better one. I was introduced to pizza and camping by them. My lifelong love of the beach was started by a trip I took with this family. Half of my childhood memories, at least, occurred in their house with Lori and her brothers. If Lori wasn’t at my house, I was at hers.
Lori drove me kind of crazy a lot. She INSISTED that I go meet this guy when we were in 7th grade. I went to meet him just to get her to shut up about him! Then I hated him when I did meet him, but at least she stopped bugging me about him. Today I am married to him – go figure! We have watched each other go through marriage, divorce and remarriages and kids.
We have watched each other bury both of our moms and both of our dads. Sharon was first on the scene the night my father died, I was 11. She offered to take care of me when Mom went to the hospital. I miss them all, but I am glad they did not have to experience this.
Lori and I saw the world through very different viewfinders. So, as adults our paths separated quite a bit. But our roots were long and strong. We stayed in touch – again, mostly her fault! We stayed friends through it all. She was by far, the most loyal friend I have ever had.
I will miss her. But I am so glad I have these precious memories and the knowledge that I had such a friend. We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. Good-bye to you, My Trusted Friend.
