Monday, October 22, 2007

Waiting

Our birthdays are in September. Her's the 3rd and mine the 18th. She is 84 and I am 61. An unlikely pair. She is elegant, well educated and intimidating. I'm just a Cleveland girl with a public school education. We met over quilting. And even though it's been a "rough ride" some times, we ended up getting along very well indeed.

She called every day or so hoping I would be free for a lunch date or at least a cup of tea and a chat in the garden. She found me to be "charming" company. I found her to be delightful.

She had a massive stroke over the weekend. Her family is with her. She is breathing on her own and has been given morphine so she won't experience any pain or fear. She is not conscious. We are all waiting.

On her birthday, I toasted her with Prosecco and we both wished on her dessert candle. We wished that the end would come quickly. Her wish. Expressed with tears in her eyes and mine. I helped blow out the candle. I just didn't know it would come so soon.

4 comments:

  1. My blessing to your friend, her family and you.

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  2. Oh, how sad! My thoughts are with you and her family.

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  3. Oh Joanne. And after all these recent wonderfully celebratory and happy posts... the circle of life, I suppose. I'm sorry.

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  4. Joanne, that is beautifully written. I'm thinking of you.

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