Forty-seven years ago on February 27, 1976, my best friend died. Her name was Diana. She was exactly 16 years and 17 days old when she died. She had cancer. Even now as I write this my eyes are filling up with tears and my throat is closing from emotions. I remember that day as if it happened yesterday.
It never fails to amaze me how people will say to those who have lost someone they love....
"It gets better with time." But it really does not you just begin to talk about them less to make those around you feel more comfortable.
Today Will not be a day filled with pain, but instead will be a day of gratitude for being blessed enough to share a friendship with this amazing person.
I am choosing to fill my heart with all the wonderful memories we made instead of mourning the loss of her. She had such a wicked sense of humor and was so funny. She would tell me it was only the chemo talking.
My life lessons with her taught me empathy, compassion, and kindness. She was such an incredible example of strength and bravery.
So today I will reflect quietly on the memories of chasing her, black cats, cold corn in a can, dumping drinks on jerks, double dates, sharing sacred secrets late into the night, singing loudly to House of the Rising Sun, listening to her thump across the floor hopping on her one leg, ripping off wigs and grinning from ear to ear, little white mice, driving lessons from hell, boyfriends with dumbfounded looks standing there holding drinks, talking for hours about getting married and having babies, hospital sweet 16 birthday, and best of all realizing what it really meant to be better than morphine.
She will never know the true impact she had on me, and the love I have for her. My daughter and grandchildren can even share stories about her, she was and still is a big part of my life.
This quote reminds me of her…
A loyal friend accepts who you are,
but also helps you become.
who you should be.
That she did…. I am a better human being because of her and her unconditional love.
Love is stronger than death even though it cannot stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It cannot take away our memories either. In the end, love is stronger than death.
Rest in peace Diana, you are so loved.
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
Today I am grateful for chance encounters.
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