Fun Monday #26 - A Friendship Ends on This Earth

When Peter (aka Willowtree), todays Fun Monday host, asked ""Tell us about your best friend. Particularly things like: where you first met, how long you've been friends and why you think you are best friends," I began writing about my life long friend.

Unfortunately, events that were expected, but not with such haste, prompted me to do an immediate rewrite.

Our Aunt Pat died yesterday. This post is dedicated to her and her Best Friend, Anne. Thanks in advance for reading. No comments necessary.

(Please do visit Peter and the other participants.)
***************


Photo taken of Pat and Anne this spring.

Aunt Pat was a strong and intelligent woman. She was a feminist long before the word was in the dictionary. She never married. I know she had offers. She was brilliant and somewhat intimidating. (She helped develop a small portable kidney dialysis machine in the early sixties.)

When she was in her early 50’s, she met Anne on an overseas guided tour. The two hit it off.

A widow, Anne was a mother and a grandmother with a lifestyle much different. Intelligence, spunk, and delight in the world around them drew them together. They became fast friends.

For over 25 years, they met each week for dinner. They vacationed together. The two could talk for hours, and did.

Pat’s body grew weary several years ago. In our concern, we asked her to move the 250 miles to our hometown so that she would be close to family.

“I’ll think about it,” was her response. I doubt she thought about it once. The reality was that Anne was her family.

On one occasion we were talking and Pat said, “If either Anne or I had been born a man we would have been married.”

She and I laughed about the remark, but I knew she was serious. Pat loved her friend deeply.

The past five years Anne transported Pat to each medical appointment. That is only one of many items on a long list of “Anne dids.”

Each time we would call and check in, Pat informed us that Anne was taking care of ‘things.’

For the past year, Anne has been our source for keeping track of Aunt Pat. Anne’s report last week prompted the hubby to visit Pat on the weekend. They spent several hours of quality time.

Yesterday, July 22, 2007, Aunt Pat died with Anne at her side. Anne will plan the service - one last thing for her best friend.

Today if you asked me about friendship, I would describe it for you in one word: Anne.

Good-bye to a Grand Grand Lady. Thank you, Anne, for loving her.

Comments

willowtree said…
Now that's a story of friendship!!

My sincere condolences to you and Wal.
Anonymous said…
What a lovely story of devoted friendship. Your tribute is also lovely and brought tears to my eyes. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and with Anne.
Robocop said…
My prayers for you.
Molly said…
Pamela,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your tribute to this friendship is beautiful.
ChrisB said…
Oh Pamela I am so sorry my thoughts and prayers are for you and your family at this sad time. What a remarkable story of these two devoted friends.
Anonymous said…
That is some story. I send you mu hugs.

Aunt Pat is a wonderful woman...and so is Anne.

My BFF and I joke all the time that we should be married to each other...Life would be so much easier.
Sayre said…
Some people are lucky enough to have that kind of friendship in their lives. Your Aunt Pat was one of them... beautiful story.
Marriage or no, they're lucky they found each other.


And my condolences to you and your family.
Debs said…
Hugs, thoughts, and prayers are with you and your family.

Your Aunt Pat and Anne...That is friendship!!
Beccy said…
So sorry to read of your loss but you have described friendship beautifully.
my4kids said…
That is a story of a great friendship. I can only hope that if the hubby doesn't out live me that I will have a friend like that.
my4kids said…
So Sorry to hear about the loss of such a special lady.
Jodi said…
You were so blessed to have Aunt Pat in your life. My heart goes out to you, your family and Anne.
Shelby said…
Oh I'm so very sorry. sending hugs.
Beckie said…
Now THAT is friendship.
Anonymous said…
Two special ladies indeed! Thank you so much for sharing. My condolences to you and your family.
Heather Plett said…
We should all be so lucky to have a lasting friendship like that!
Anonymous said…
What a beautiful friendship. I'm glad they had each other. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Aunt Pat, and Anne's best friend.
BarnGoddess said…
what a great friendship story!

sorry about Pat's passing. ((hugs))

My best friend L and I have been best friends since 4th grade, when we were 9 yo. We are both 38 now.

She is the BEST friend I could ever have.....speaking of which I think Ill tell her that today.
Kaytabug said…
I am so crying right now. What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. My most sincere condolences to Anne,you and your family.
Susie Q said…
My prayers go out to you...Aunt Pat was a special lady. She was a blessing to you I know. What a story of friendship. A treasure.

I will be thinking about Anne and keep her in my prayers. Devotion like that is something we all desire.

My thought will be with you all.

Hugs,
Sue
Anonymous said…
Celebrating a beautiful friendship--a very happy post! Being able to share in this and share this with others is a joyous, lovely thing.
Anonymous said…
yeah that is the best of friends the most awesome of friendships!!
MommaBoo said…
What a blessing she was.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

"Friends are the family we choose."

Happy Monday!
Amy W said…
What a lovely story, my thoughts and prayers with you and your family.
Anonymous said…
Wow, that's a story.

A story that is perfectly told.
Shauna said…
My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and Anne. . .

This is the story of TRUE FRIENDSHIP! Thank you for sharing with us!
Anonymous said…
They seem more like sisters. I'm glad that they were together in the end. My sincere condolences.
Carole Burant said…
Such a beautiful and heartfelt post about friendship...how wonderful if we could all experience a friendship like that of Anne's & Pat's!! My sincere condolences on the passing of Aunt Pat...she will be missed for sure by Anne and the family. xox
Tiggerlane said…
The photo really complemented your story of a lifelong friendship - which knows no bounds. Thanks for the tears - you help me remember and be grateful for each and every day with your stories.

Know that there is someone thinking of you in your time of loss. And cheers to Aunt Pat, for a life well-lived.
Anonymous said…
wow, amazing that a friendship that some may have seen unlikely could last so long.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family for peace at this time.
Anonymous said…
Great tribute, mom.....
Anonymous said…
A truly beautiful tribute to friendship. It was an honour to read.
Anonymous said…
Their love warms my heart. How wonderful that they found each other. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Whippersnapper said…
So sorry for your loss Pamela.
theotherbear said…
Oh Pamela, this brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful tribute.
Anonymous said…
Pamela,
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family...and especially to Anne. What a beautiful story of friendship and once again, you wove a tapestry of love with your words.
Kathy
Anonymous said…
Oh Pamela, my thoughts are with you. What a lovely friendship story.
Hazel said…
...true love
Anonymous said…
What a moving post. Thank you for sharing and I am sorry for your loss.
irreverentmama said…
A beautiful post to commemorate a beautiful friendship. My heart goes out to you, for your loss, and also to Anne.

Thank you for sharing.
Irene said…
That was a story about friendship that was truly worth telling, Pamela.

Thank you for warming our hearts with it.
Karina said…
This post brought tears to my eyes, what a beautiful tribute and a true story of friendship.

I'm so sorry for your loss!
Raven_Dase said…
that is such a sweet story. my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Amanda said…
Well written, Mom. I dreamt about Aunt Pat last night. I'll miss her genuine smile.
katy said…
Pamela that was such a beautiful tribute. love and hugs to you all in your time of sadness x
How incredibly sad, but so absolutely wonderful that Aunt Pat had that friend in her life.

I am sorry for your family's loss.
Donetta said…
Thank you for celebrating their lives with us. I am so grateful for you to have such a love for all of your life.
We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
Gattina said…
A very good story about friendship. One good friend is better than a lot of "friends". It's so nice that they found each other rather late and could share so many things together !
Anonymous said…
That's a wonderful friendship. I've got tears in my eyes now. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Susie said…
My sincere sympathy on your loss. Your tribute was so touching.. A friendship like this is a gift from Above..
xo

Popular posts from this blog

Apparitions in my Garden

An Old Cold Spot

I Can Almost Smell it