Friendships survive even death. My good friend Ann died yesterday; she just never woke up in the morning. She had suffered a stroke in December and simply couldn’t recover, so today I’m left contemplating her loss and how it impacts me. She was older than I am, which never mattered. Ann was vibrant and engaged in life, and generous in so many ways. We first met while decorating our local club for Christmas about a decade ago. I was impressed with her talent and found out she was a retired, licensed interior designer. Her skill was obvious and I was delighted to follow her guidance.
About five years ago, my house needed some upgrades and I was inspired to take on the project as my husband and I were hosting a special event for about sixty people. Ann looked around the house, saying that it looked better than she expected, then proceeded to make suggestions on what could be done to freshen it up. What fun we had running around town, checking out fabric and carpet stores! I fully intended to get a bill, but she said, “There’s only one condition: you can’t pay me.” What a surprise! She saved me thousands of dollars as she not only helped me make good choices, but also used her decorator’s discount. She was generous, not only with me, but with many of her friends who also admired her talent. In return, all I could offer was my skill in helping her write a gardening piece for her club’s newsletter.
As I look around our living room at the beautiful designer carpets, the flower arrangements, and especially the big porch with three complementary but different seating arrangements, I know that Ann will always have a place in my heart as well as my house. Her generosity of spirit permeates my life. Friendships never die.