Not long ago, I got a message from a very dear, long time friend telling me that her husband, also a long time, dear friend had been killed in a freak boating accident and she wanted to let us know. We were totally blown away, shocked! We got to know C&D when we lived in Ohio. We both had young children, busy lives, and struggles for careers. We did lots of things together. It was one of those relationships that is so very special because everyone gets along so well together. It is not, I think, often for two women to have a great relationship and for their husbands to get along as well. We had the added joy of having 4 little girls between us that grew and played well together. It was an idyllic time. C&D were wonderfully in love as were my husband and I. There was mutual respect in all directions. C&D were wonderfully supportive, mellow and fun. In great part, we parented similarly and thought alike.
Life intervened and we moved, as life in the Air Force dictates. This was not the end of our friendship. We continued to be in touch with C&D intermittently. Their children grew up and went out on their own, as did ours. We continued intermittent contact, but never lost sight of the wonderful years of friendship and support we shared with C&D. In fact, I have a drawing, done by their daughter, in my office as well as a picture of D and their daughter taken by C. I treasure both and often think of C&D and our lives together.
Now, I am forced to rethink life and the fragility of personal connections. I have exposed to the realization that instead of C&D suffering this devastating loss it could be me. I discovered that I cannot begin to comprehend what my life would be like with S. I never imagined C without D or for that matter D without C. This was just not a part of my reality, now it is. My heart aches for C. She is now completely alone, without a help mate, solace or soft place. She will recover, but forever there will be that part of her that is missing. That part that she willingly, lovingly, openly gave to D. There are not words to describe the grief and the loss. I pray for strength, and patience, and love, and peace, and understanding.
