Fiction
Related: About this forumThe ties that bind. (book related)
Tuesday I went to the burial of my life long best friend who, for some reasons and illness I had not seen in a while. We bonded when I was 12 she 13 and over the years made 3 promises to each other for whoever went first.
In Jr. High we decided that each of us would live in the tiny community that her Grandparents lived in and she would eventually inherit the homestead. I followed through many years after and lived here for 12 years before she died.
In High School we pledged to make certain there were no little black hairs growing out of our faces while in our casket. I don't know why exactly but her husband told me that there were no hairs so I was relieved of that duty.
The last pledge we made was to make absolutely certain there was a book inside the casket with us. I thought and thought and chose a book we had read together as very young women and had enjoyed so much then and again later in life when we re read it. I finally found my copy just in time, The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffery. 3 books within a book.
It is funny how pledges like this make me feel somehow like no matter where she travels she will still have a part of me with her. Books mean so much to so many of us. To have bonded as tightly as we did we are now forever connected by something that meant the world to us, only one of the hundreds of books we must have read together in our own little 2 person book club. I loved her and I will miss her but I am so pleased knowing my book is forever in her hands. Travel well Jan.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)to a departed friend that I have read, here or elsewhere. Jan was lucky to have you as a friend.
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)Over 50 years we roamed the galaxy together with our books and anything else we could get up to.
I was the lucky one. Thank you for this reply.
Response to MuseRider (Original post)
Atticus This message was self-deleted by its author.
japple
(10,292 posts)she may be. And you will have a piece of her in your heart forever. We should all be so lucky.
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)smiling. She is owed a good afterlife (if there is one) this life was lacking for her. Always her health.
She will never not be a part of me, that much is true. I decided to start with all the pre books to the Dragonriders. I never read them all so I will work through and give her a chance to finish first, that was always important to her being a year older ya know.
hermetic
(8,604 posts)Thank you for sharing it here.
Freedomofspeech
(4,376 posts)I have two friends who have now passed and we promised that if we were ever in a coma that we would visit and pluck any facial hair. That brought a smile to my face when I read your tribute. Love and peace to you.
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)She was not a real close friend but we were neighbors as well as occasional friends. She was a librarian. Odd how that happens.
Freedomofspeech
(4,376 posts)😍
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)are the best people! I have a lot of friends who are former or current librarians. Most of them are involved with music too and that is how I actually got to know them. I will depend on librarians before anyone to keep our Democracy safe. Well done Freedomofspeech.
Freedomofspeech
(4,376 posts)We had so much federal funding that I had the most beautiful library with over 50,000 books and beautiful artwork. It was the social center of the school. My library aides were everyone from special needs kids to the quarterback of the football team. We were family. After I retired, they renovated the school, ripped out the library and threw the books in dumpsters. They even allowed some science classes to burn some of the books.
The Media Center there now has maybe a thousand books, pool tables and tons of TV's. I realize it is a different time but this is heartbreaking to me. I still hear from so many of my former students and they all tell me the library is the best part of their memories from high school.
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)I have ever read. I am so sorry for you but then the kids. There is little to be gained that way, pool tables? TV's for entertainment? What a loss and the thought that they would just callously throw so many books away and allowing some to be burned? Wow. I am sorry. That must have hurt you all the way through your soul.
I am so glad that there are former students who tell you that. That is a major solace at least. Thank you from me all the way down here in Kansas.
Freedomofspeech
(4,376 posts)It did break my heart. Take care of yourself in these scary times. May the Force be with you.
MuseRider
(34,346 posts)It is rather unnerving. At least I do not live in a populated area and I have a lot of food etc put away (not TP, we are both ex medical people and knew better than that).
Freedomofspeech
(4,376 posts)Wondering when we will see them again. This is all so horrifying. That orange bastard.