I have a dear friend who passed this week unexpectedly, and rather suddenly. She had been treated for cancer, and that treatment was going well. She was expected to be cancer free and was working on gaining strength so she could return to living in her own country home. She died of an unexpected blood clot.
Our family and I have been lucky enough to have known her for many years. She was our rural village's post mistress, until her retirement from it last year.. In our very rural area, mail is not delivered to the farms and rural homes. We go to the small rural post office where we pick up our mail, sometimes daily, if we are out and traveling in that direction, or sometimes a couple of times a week if we are not expecting anything. Our friend has been with us through a lot of living. She has taken delivery of chicks and animal immunizations for us there, and would call us to come pick them up. She used to see Daniel every day when I would break from homeschooling to take him for a break in the morning, and we would stop in. They are a fine family that helps to make this area one of the places that is worth living. She was the first person to arrive at the celebration of Daniel's life after he passed so suddenly. She listened to each of our passages as we waited to hear what could have caused the unexpected passing of our beloved boy. She grieved his loss with us. She celebrated with us when our daughter bought her own home. She cared about people and was always there for them. Over the years we got to know her wonderful Dad, her children, and her grandchildren. Without her, this place will be a little less colorful, and a lot less loving.
In the last eight weeks, her father and brother had passed and it seems as if God had made arrangements for them and was calling them home. She loved America and was concerned about many of the changes we have seen in the past number of years. She saw a lot of people and families leave this area during what is now called "The Great Recession". There was even talk of closing this lovely rural post office and having us all drive even farther to get mail. I missed her funeral because it occurred before I knew of her passing, however several of my friends, my family and I would have liked to have paid our respects. I think she knew how much she was treasured though. I once gave her a Mr. Coffee machine for the post office at Christmas. She liked costume jewelry, and I gave her some at Christmas and on her birthdays. My family and I were present for her at her Dad's funeral recently, and I think she appreciated that. He too was a remarkable man.
Treasure your friends, your extended family and your family. The mission to Earth that each of us are sent to, often ends suddenly. Make sure that the people you care for, know how important they are. Take them to lunch !
My friend, I thank you for being who you are. I thank you for being the kind woman you always were to everyone. I thank you for sharing your sense of humor. I thank you for being the best post mistress we could have had. I thank you for being a wonderful part of Daniel's life. You will be remembered, and oh, how you will be missed !
