Recently, a dear friend of mine died.  We had known each other since 1st grade, but had not been close friends at that time.  And then, a group of grade school friends started meeting after many years had passed.  We had some in the group who had always been close friends and others we didn’t know as well.  But we’d had the experience of being together in the same class of students for eight years.  That’s a history we all shared and we had so many memories of the teachers and the things that happened in those classrooms.  We had so much fun remembering and laughing.

The fact that we were able to meet and reminisce was a joy and a gift to each of us.  Because of our age and our retirements, we were able to meet easier than we ever would have before this time of our lives.  And so, we continued to meet more regularly and every one of us looked forward to each time we met. 

She and I were in this group together.  Since we had not been close friends as children, we had come together and became close because we were both grieving.  The shared experience of grade school brought us together.  The experience of deep loss drew us closer.

We were both extroverts and needed to be around people.  We did so many things together in that last year of her life.  We loved each other very much.  I miss her terribly.  We shared our losses, comforted each other and laughed a lot.  She was particularly fierce with me when I had been avoiding going to the doctor for help with my depression.  She was like a drill sergeant and wouldn’t let up.  So I went, and the process of my healing began to improve.  I had never been reluctant to go for help in the past, but at this time of my life I was, and she was there to help me get past it.

Now, she is reunited with her husband and family in heaven.  I think of her and pray for her everyday.  I hope she is doing the same for me.  I think she is.  My mood and attitude continue to lift as the days go by.  And I am so grateful.