My friend Lori died yesterday. Rhonda called me right when we were heading to her house for a much needed visit and told me the sad news. It happened so quickly - we were just talking about her the day before and now she is gone. I wanted to give her a great big hug, telling her that she would be fine. I wanted to hear her tell us that when she was feeling better she would bake some of her famous cookies. I wanted her to know that we loved her and would always be there for her.
I'm sad, and moreover, a little angry. I'm angry because I don't understand why God would take her now. She was going to start teaching. She wanted to get married and have children. She had so much faith in God to get her through this awful pain. She was a beautiful human being with a heart of gold that deserved so much more.
I told my friend Lorraine last night that maybe the place where she would be happiest wasn't here on earth, but in heaven. There with her dad who she adored and missed. There with Cynthia who loved her like her own daughter. A place where she could be whole again.
Lori, I will miss your smiles and infectious laughter. I want to thank you for being there at my worst when Ryan died and giving me much needed hugs and phone calls just to tell me you cared. I will miss those lunches at Gin Sushi where would eat until we were stuffed and laughed so hard that people thought we were crazy. I will miss your cookies. I will miss hearing you talk about your nieces and nephews.
I will miss your friendship. You will never be forgotten.
