Saturday, January 22, 2011

My Everyday Friend

Laurie was my Every Day friend... the one who knew what kind of a day I was having and what I needed from the store. For the last few years we have accompanied each other through hard things and wrestled with the hard questions together, like 2 wobbly skaters who hold each other up. She always made me laugh - in the midst of the most difficult situations, she had something funny to say. She had so many losses in the last 3 years - her beautiful curly red hair, 4 inches of height, her beloved horse, and even her husbands presence - but she was so courageous and resilient.


Over the past 2 days, I got to sit at her bedside with other friends. We all had heard of one another ... but we were from different eras, different contexts of Laurie's life. We laughed and told Laurie stories and cried and rubbed her feet and kissed her and told her how we loved her. It was a sacred time, full of "sharp sorrow and great wonder" as my friend Gwen described such a time. I hope that when I die, I can be accompanied to the threshold by my women friends as Laurie was.

I have lost my skating partner.

3 comments:

Matt Mikalatos said...

I am so sorry, Carolyn. I never met Laurie but I feel like I've learned a lot about her from the great things you've always said about her. I'll be praying for you and for her family. Let me and Krista know if there's anything we can do for you....

Matt

Courtney said...

Oh Carolyn, I am so very sorry.

Leppy said...

So sorry to hear that Laurie passed away and for your grief at not having her to hold you up. I'm sure you are finding sweet comfort in Jesus. We have had several go to be with Jesus in the last few years and it is bitter sweet.
Hugs,
Becky Leppard