This is a significant date for me, because it earmarks the birth of one close friend and the early death of another.
Today is Gigi's birthday--the great childhood friend about whom I often write. In fact, I wrote about her again this week and you can read what I have to say here. She was a fabulous kid who grew up to be a fabulous adult--full of passion and social outrage and deep, deep kindness. Her grandmother, who was like THE ROSE KENNEDY OF PROVO, would be so proud of her and of Gigi's cousin Erika Petersen, who is the driving force behind the Building Bridges movement. Both the Mormon and LBGT communities owe Erika a huge debt of gratitude. And also lunch.
It's also the day another great childhood friend, Becky Brown Thomas, died unexpectedly in her sleep. She was only 47. We'd had lunch the day before where we laughed and laughed and laughed. And then she fell silent.
I took her death hard. Of course I did. So did everybody else. And for a long, long time I went to sleep at night, hoping that she might visit me in a dream. She never has. But I did dream one night about my other friends--the ones who share my life right here and now--and when I awoke I felt as though Becky had sent me a message of sorts.
You're here now.
You have been blessed with these women.
Love them.
Take care of them.
Stop mourning for me.
Of course the mourning never stops. But I also never forget how lucky I am to have the friends I do. So, so lucky.
6 comments:
Beautiful, beautiful, Ann. And same to you but more of it.
Lovely.
I met Gigi last year at Melody's writing retreat and agree that she is lovely, vibrant, and delightful. Loved your column about her and about being a writer.
Dear friends are a gift.
It seems simple enough for them to come in dreams, doesn't it? I'm glad you got to spend time with her before she slipped away.
I love this so much. Thank you for sharing this part of your life--it's important to acknowledge it, the friends who are here and the ones who have gone. xo
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