I can still see us; two little girls having a peanut butter sandwich picnic.
My forever friend Joanne Long and I would ride our bikes to the school yard. We’d sit on the grass and eat our sandwiches. We’d plan our futures and talk about how it would be someday.
Neither of our lives turned out as planned. That tends to be the way of life.
We grew up together. We shared being children, teens, young moms, and grandmothers.
We each lost our parents. Furthermore, we each lost husbands.
I shared in the joy of her son Brian’s birth. He was and still is like my own.
Last night, I learned that Joanne is gone. It’s hard to believe.
In my mind’s eye, she is still that funny little girl.
We shared so many things in our lifetimes. We laughed, we cried, we plotted, and we planned. Sometimes, we were naughty. Most times we were just happy to be together. I’m just very sad to know she’s gone.
Bless my sweet Brian and his family.
It’s the cycle of life. Sadly, I’ve lost too many friends in the last few years. It reminds us of our own mortality.
Meanwhile, those of us left behind face the challenge of taking care of ourselves.
We need to work at it.
Life, although sad, is good today.■
