L

My friend L. She is a woman that has created a internet company from nothing - sold it and made a nice penny. She reopened something of the same type and still makes a nice living. She has the American Dream life. The great house filled with lovely art. The good son in prep school. The doting husband and the big boat and expensive cars. Life always seemed good for L. The little green monster would arise occasionally after we would see them because she seemed to attain something I always wanted.

Well L called me last night. L's mom had passed away last weekend after a long battle with cancer. L was very close to her Mom and her parents were married for 51 years and together for 55. She told me the story of how hundreds of people attended her service and though L was mourning for her Mom she was able to take some of these stories that she had never heard before and walk away with a smile. She found out things she never knew about her Mom. She found out that her Mother touched many people thruout her life in many ways.

L is Jewish and she was headed to Temple because they mourn for a week after burial - she found some humor in her quest to find a Temple that was open everyday and she had located an Orthodox Temple. She said it was like stepping back many, many years ago and her with her heels and diamonds she felt a little out of place - but it made her feel better to go.

The thing that hit me last night as I spoke to her is that for all the envy I have at times with her - last night was not one of them. I cried as I spoke to her and told her that I could not even imagine losing a parent.

I just cried not only for her but at the thought of losing what I hold very dear.

Sometimes you take that small moment not to only look in from the outside, but you take a moment to step into their shoes and take it all in. Sometimes their shoes aren't very comfortable at all.

To my family that is so far away...I love you.