My cell phone just buzzed. It was a message from a friend whose life turned upside down about 24 hours ago through the death of her spouse...best friend....soulmate. Tonight, it was a different kind of message than last night. It was one of those how can this really be happening?
I wish I had the words. I wish I had the answers. All I could be is real. She asked me how I can be strong. It's a bit ironic. First of all, I don't feel strong. I feel ANGRY that I lost a friend...and that all of this is happening. I'm tired of loss. Second, given what she has gone through, I am weak, but yet in her 1:00 a.m. text. I am strong.
So while my words didn't seem to me to be totally right ones, they were heartfelt. I never have practiced that speech.
We chatted about so many things--his personality, his loves, his baseball team, the love they shared...and how #$@%# unfair it was! My words were honest, and heartfelt...and yea, maybe my offer to come kick the person's (or anybody's) butt that told her not to think about planning any more today -- after going to the funeral home-- was not necessary, but she giggled. She knows my personality and said she needed someone to be real--without a filter. I felt honored she reached out! My motto: Unless you have walked in my shoes....don't tell me how to avoid blisters on my feet.
So tonight as I lay back down to go to sleep, I'm thankful for real conversations. Real friends. Real feelings. Real laughs. Real Tears. ....in Real Life!
I wish I had the words. I wish I had the answers. All I could be is real. She asked me how I can be strong. It's a bit ironic. First of all, I don't feel strong. I feel ANGRY that I lost a friend...and that all of this is happening. I'm tired of loss. Second, given what she has gone through, I am weak, but yet in her 1:00 a.m. text. I am strong.
So while my words didn't seem to me to be totally right ones, they were heartfelt. I never have practiced that speech.
We chatted about so many things--his personality, his loves, his baseball team, the love they shared...and how #$@%# unfair it was! My words were honest, and heartfelt...and yea, maybe my offer to come kick the person's (or anybody's) butt that told her not to think about planning any more today -- after going to the funeral home-- was not necessary, but she giggled. She knows my personality and said she needed someone to be real--without a filter. I felt honored she reached out! My motto: Unless you have walked in my shoes....don't tell me how to avoid blisters on my feet.
So tonight as I lay back down to go to sleep, I'm thankful for real conversations. Real friends. Real feelings. Real laughs. Real Tears. ....in Real Life!