Inherited Friend
I received a surprise package in the mail a few days ago. It was a Lladro figurine of an angel watching over a sleeping baby. Enclosed was a note from my mother's best friend saying her sister had passed away and while she was cleaning out the apartment thought I would like to have the figurine as it had been in their family for many years.
My mother met her BFF when she was in her twenties, they were both newly minted nuns and they were stationed in Peru. After my mom kicked the habit to the curb a few years later to marry my dad the two friends kept in touch long distance as BFF lived in California. Every few years my mom's BFF would come to visit. As I got older I would join them for a dinner out or get them discount theater tickets.
When my mom was dying of cancer a few years ago she thought it important to tell me of a figurine she had of a girl sweeping. It was a Lladro from BFF and one I admired on her mantel. She told me to take it before she died as her BFF would want me to have it. She also told me to never forget her BFF. The day my mom died I received a call at the hospice from her BFF but we only chatted briefly as I was in shock.
Unfortunately I lost touch with my mom's BFF for a few years. Dealing with grief, handling the closing of my mom's estate, and trying to get a handle on my immediate family's everyday craziness can do that. This past December I reconnected with my mom's BFF.
I realize no one communicates via old-fashioned note card correspondence anymore but somehow it seemed fitting for an old friend. So that's what I did tonight. I sat down and wrote my mom's best friend a letter. She had mentioned she would be in NY in July so I told her to let me know the dates and I would drive down to meet up with her. I inherited a good friend of my mother's and strange as it sounds keeps the spirit of my mom alive.
My mother met her BFF when she was in her twenties, they were both newly minted nuns and they were stationed in Peru. After my mom kicked the habit to the curb a few years later to marry my dad the two friends kept in touch long distance as BFF lived in California. Every few years my mom's BFF would come to visit. As I got older I would join them for a dinner out or get them discount theater tickets.
When my mom was dying of cancer a few years ago she thought it important to tell me of a figurine she had of a girl sweeping. It was a Lladro from BFF and one I admired on her mantel. She told me to take it before she died as her BFF would want me to have it. She also told me to never forget her BFF. The day my mom died I received a call at the hospice from her BFF but we only chatted briefly as I was in shock.
Unfortunately I lost touch with my mom's BFF for a few years. Dealing with grief, handling the closing of my mom's estate, and trying to get a handle on my immediate family's everyday craziness can do that. This past December I reconnected with my mom's BFF.
I realize no one communicates via old-fashioned note card correspondence anymore but somehow it seemed fitting for an old friend. So that's what I did tonight. I sat down and wrote my mom's best friend a letter. She had mentioned she would be in NY in July so I told her to let me know the dates and I would drive down to meet up with her. I inherited a good friend of my mother's and strange as it sounds keeps the spirit of my mom alive.