It has been far too long since I wrote anything. Now is the time to come out of my slump. Family and friends said goodbye today to one of the best people God ever created. I came out of my partially-Covid-induced hermitage to attend her celebration of life. (So Covid was/is a very good reason to stay home or at least keep my distance from people; but truth be told, I’m pretty much okay with that MO anyway!)
But today I put on real clothes- yes, a dress and non-running-shoes- to attend a perfect celebration of life service. All that would have made it better was if the hero could have been there herself! My dear daddy helped get me there. You see, as I was out walking in 30-degree weather with blustery winds, my power went out at home. So I was going to have to go to the service without being able to dry my hair after my shower. And that little voice that said, “okay, so don’t go then” was silenced by the memory of Daddy saying to me and my sister in our teenage years as we agonized over what to wear (wherever we were going!), “It’s not a fashion show!” And he was right. My dear sweet friend would never have missed a funeral or a party or anything else because her hair hadn’t been fluffed by a hair dryer! And I don’t think anyone else there cared what my hair looked like!
Not only did I get to hear beautiful words from my friend’s family and friends and pastor, I also got to see- and hug!- other friends from years past. And I came away reminded how important it is to stay connected with people. It is far too easy for me to stay in my own small world. But I will- I WILL!- make more of an effort to take walks sometimes with others, to meet them for meals, to make that call or send that text. These are people who care about me and about whom I care. Would that I had another chance to speak to my sweet friend whose life we celebrated today.
Tonight I will go to bed with a book she gave me on my fiftieth birthday. The title is Gifts I’d Like to Give to You (edited by Douglas Pagels). It is inscribed with very sweet words she wrote just for me, and I will keep them to myself. But they show how very much attention she paid to ME! Because in her words, I see myself. At the time, I had 13, 16 and 18 year old children. I was working full-time and taking on all the extra jobs I could while helping with homework, going to games, chauffeuring, cooking, doing laundry (so much laundry!). I appreciated the book, but I did not fully absorb it. I wish I had. I think it has wise words in it. And so now I will take it up again.
I love you, my friend. I love you, friends I saw today. And thank you Daddy, for making sure I got where I needed to be today!
bethdlayton 