Sad news
My mother called this evening to tell me that a childhood friend of mine has died. She received a letter from Anna's parents, who hadn't been able to bring themselves to write until now, poor dears. Anna has been gone since February, when she asked her sister to take her to the hospital to check up on a stubborn bronchitis and the doctors found something quite unexpected. She didn't make it home: The big C took her at the age of 42, barely a year after having her first child.
I'm not sure how long our families have been friends, just that we were all a part of the same Swedish community in Southern California. I clearly remember reading Anna's Judy Bloom books, Fourth of July barbecues, and the avocado tree, swimming pool, and tennis court in her parents' backyard that put our measly Jacuzzi to shame. One Midsummer, she made me look bad by wearing a Swedish folk costume when I refused to, but I liked Anna. She liked horses and that was enough for me.
I think I need some time to wrap my head around this.