I got word the other day that a woman I knew from childhood had passed away. I would like to call her a friend, cause even though I might not see her but every few years, and we always chatted a little when I saw her.
I first met her as the pesky little sister when her family moved into a house next door to ours. Well, it was up the hill a little ways, cause when you live in the country you don't live right next door as you do in suburbia. Her older sister and I played together as children, more from proximity than real friendship back then, and as we got older, we developed separate friends and interests. And then I moved away, far far away. And I'd see Delma from time to time when I was back in Duncan. We always exchanged pleasantries, and I told her she had an open invitation to come visit me anytime she came to the States. I would like to think that if I had stayed there we could have been real friends. All I know is, she was always smiling, always sweet and I liked being able to talk with her, even though it was always very brief. I wish now I'd tried a little harder to stay in touch. But then we connected on Facebook and I got a glimpse of her life, and it was a rich, full life. She had a life partner, she had children, she traveled, and documented that in pictures. And I was so glad to see that.
And now she's gone and as cliche as this may sound, the world is a smaller and colder place without her.
I first met her as the pesky little sister when her family moved into a house next door to ours. Well, it was up the hill a little ways, cause when you live in the country you don't live right next door as you do in suburbia. Her older sister and I played together as children, more from proximity than real friendship back then, and as we got older, we developed separate friends and interests. And then I moved away, far far away. And I'd see Delma from time to time when I was back in Duncan. We always exchanged pleasantries, and I told her she had an open invitation to come visit me anytime she came to the States. I would like to think that if I had stayed there we could have been real friends. All I know is, she was always smiling, always sweet and I liked being able to talk with her, even though it was always very brief. I wish now I'd tried a little harder to stay in touch. But then we connected on Facebook and I got a glimpse of her life, and it was a rich, full life. She had a life partner, she had children, she traveled, and documented that in pictures. And I was so glad to see that.
And now she's gone and as cliche as this may sound, the world is a smaller and colder place without her.
