Hi all,
yesterday I learned that an old friend of mine had passed away. This woman had been my English teacher in school and later bacame my friend. She was an awesome person!
About ten years ago she had a lung transplant and was never really well after that. However, she just continued to live live to it's fullest. For a few years she continued to teach at the local school even though she had to bring oxygen with her. When she had to retire, she decided she was going to learn German, and started taking classes. She took up yoga. She tutored children at her house and was an active member in a transplant support group. She also managed to stay in touch with friends in Denmark where she lived, with me in Florida, the family she worked for as an au pair decades ago in France, friends in New Zealand and Australia and many others. She and her husband even continued their travels to other countries.
Throughout her illness, she just stayed so positive. She was a great rolemodel and a wonderful support to me. She always encouraged me to get the most out of my life, to learn and to grow. When friends and family were against me moving from Denmark to the US, she was there the whole time, cheering me on from the sidelines always eager to hear stories from my life abroad.
It's terrible how we all get so caught up in our everyday life that we don't take time to stay in better contact with old friends. I regret to say that as much as this friend meant to me, the last time I wrote her a letter was last Christmas. I knew she was not well and spent weeks at a time in the hospital, but she always managed to pull through. I didn't know she was this sick - had hope she would have a few more years on earth. Despite not feeling well, she found the strength and time to write me back, wanting every detail of my new job and my life in general. I never did write that letter in response. I wish I had taken the time to let her know how much she's meant to me in the 22 years I've known her and also just letting her know that I was doing well. I know from my family that she'd always ask about me when she met them or friends of mine. I feel terrible regret that I did not find the time to be a better friend to her.
I'm going to go get a card to send to her husband, who I don't know very well, and let him know what a special wife he had and how much she's guided me through the years.
I'm also going to send letters or emails to people in my life I have not taken the time to stay in better contact with, because you never know. I wrote one letter yesterday, I'll write more today.
