Ten years ago today, my best friend, teaching partner, and Sister by Heart slipped away into eternity. I was privileged to be there at the moment she left. I will never forget that moment. Even though its been 10 years, I miss her more than those first few days after she left me. Somehow I found the strength to be able to eulogize her in her standing-room-only memorial service, and today, the anniversary of her death, I got out the speech I made with Van standing next to me. I choose to honor her memory today by sharing on my timeline some of my words that perfectly describe what we meant to each other. My words are inadequate. As an English teacher I am frustrated and dismayed that I cannot find words to say exactly what I mean without sounding trite. So Ill just say that when I remember Judy, I will remember spending 40 hours outside of class with our each of our Classes of 87,91, and 95 building homecoming floats; I will remember spending the day with her agonizing over whether our A.P. Literature students were passing their A.P. test as they sat in another room writing it; I will remember the two of us suiting up for a pep rally in inflated sumo wrestler suits and her tearing hers off because of her claustrophobia; I will remember the blanket and pillow she brought to school so that on my prep period I could rest in the teachers workroom when I was in horrific treatment for my leukemia; I will remember the birthday and Mothers Day cards I received from my dogs and Judy marveling at how smart those dogs were to find a way to get to the store and select cards with such appropriate messages; I will remember the two of us standing on the stage at a graduation ceremony trying to read names as the individuals in our class came up and received their diplomas, and the names, some written in water-based marker, disappearing before we could read them as the rain came down; I will remember the two of us celebrating as each of us achieved remission from our cancers. And I will remember how, as her sister Carol says, she always did her best. I will NEVER forget the miracle of our friendship growing into one of the biggest joys of my life. The sweeping up the heart, and putting love away until eternity as Emily Dickinson puts it, is no easy task. Honestly, I dont know how I will get along without Judy Dunbridge. For me, she was not the sunrise, she was not the sunset, she was the sun. Getting along without her hasnt been easy, but I have tried to honor her memory by putting into practice what I learned from her generous spirit and her courage, strength and hope. I hope she is proud of me.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:36:52 +0000
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