Last week, a lovely woman passed away after a long, sad decline. She was sixty-six years old and had suffered from Alzheimer’s for twelve years. When I read her obituary I learned she, too, had been an English major in college—something I hadn’t known before. I had known she was an avid reader and the last time I saw her socially I attended a reading of The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri with her and her sister-in-law. Although she was quickly slipping away, I treasure the bittersweet memory of that evening when one last time we got to share our love of books, words and slightly irreverent humor.
Farewell, Julia. It was a joy to have known you.
2 comments:
I don't know where to start, Lark.
First, I'm sorry about the loss of your friend. Two, we all lose when someone with a slightly irreverent sense of humor and a love of books and words dies. Three, sixty-six is too damn young. Four, THE NAMESAKE is one of my favorite books of all time.
I'm mourning your friend, too.
Thanks, Pat. A day like today reminds me how important it is to treasure the time we have and the people in our lives.
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