Goodbye Shirley

My mother called me this morning to let me know that a very sweet family friend passed away this morning. Have you ever gotten together with someone and felt when you parted that it might be the last time you saw them? That was the way it was for me when I saw Shirley this summer at my mother's birthday party. She was 80+ years old but that wasn't really what made it think I may not see her again. It was the look in her eyes. She was there but she wasn't really. Her spirit just didn't seem in the game. She had developed diabetes over the last couple of years but other than that was a very healthy lady. She walked daily and continued cleaning houses up until the end. She was always very loving to me and to my daughter. I remember telling her this last time that if my daughter received another card in the mail with a $20 bill in it she was going to be in big trouble! She would write little notes with the cards and I would always mean to write back but more often than not, I would not make the time. I am glad that I thought to tuck in a few pictures of my daughter to give to her this summer because I know that meant a great deal to her. So today my heart goes out to her daughter. I know Shirley is at peace now but her daughter is lost today. She found her this morning when she returned from work. My mother is headed to her house to help her make the necessary calls and to sort out the details. I know this will be a hard day for my mother as well as I am sure it will bring up a lot of painful memories from when my nana passed away - nine years ago this fall. Maybe it's because my daughter is studying the different roles/responsibilites people have but I just keep thinking about that this morning - the roles people play and the responsibilities we have to each other when we are in a relationship be it a family relationship or a friendship. We have had a handful of people emerge this past week to support us with our latest miscarriage - some are the usual suspects and a few have been quite unexpected and all of their thoughts and prayers have helped us to begin to heal. So I guess that is just the circle of life. We are blessed to have amazingly caring people in our lives who we can laugh with in the good times and cry with in the bad times and when it's their turn to do the leaning we are strong for them. So, goodbye Shirley. I will miss you.