February 22, 2013
Good Afternoon….
My name is Fran
and like many of you, Debbie’s friend…well I would go as far as to say Debbie
and I were best friends. I always refer
to Debbie as my best “Mom” friend.
Debbie and I met through our kids.
I am not sure our paths would have crossed if it weren’t for our
kids.
I can’t say for
sure why we became friends….was it because we both were married to older men
who love sports, (sorry Pete) was it because we both love margaritas, was it
because we both were the same age or was it just meant to be.
Many people meet
their best friends as young children playing on the playground, sitting next to
each other in elementary school (which ironically both our sons, Jake and Derek
do) or on a sports field. But it took me
32 years to find my best friend, a friendship that lasted six years but will
last a lifetime in my heart.
I am a friend
who is going to miss her best friend.
I am
going to miss…..
Sitting
on the cold bleachers watching our sons play baseball…well not really watch
because we talked the whole time and rarely knew the score when the game was
over.
I
am going to miss…..
Texting
my friend late at night retelling a story about a bad parenting choice I made
or how funny Si was on Duck Dynasty that night.
I
am going to miss…..
Dreaming
of the day we would both turn 40 on a beach in Key West sipping Margaritas
With
our husbands at our side….because even though we would complain about them on a
regular basis, we knew we would never want to spend a moment without them by
our side.
I
am going to miss….
The
companionship of someone who really understood me and accepted me for all my
quirks.
I am a friend
who is going to miss her best friend.
However, I am
also a friend who was so touched by Debbie that….
I
will always remember….
The
infectious smile she had on her face no matter what. It seemed that even when the cards were
stacked against her (and they seemed to be that way often) always found a way
to smile through it.
I
will always remember….
The
sarcastic and sassy humor Debbie had on a regular basis. She would get a little twinkle in her crystal
blue eyes when she was up to no good.
I
will always remember….
How
she had a memory like an elephant…she is the friend that would always remember
to celebrate EVERY holiday, a friend who would always remember your birthday
and the friend who always remembered how your husband loved to imitate Vanilla
Ice after a couple of beverages.
I am a friend
who also knows that Debbie’s legacy will live on. Debbie is alive each and every day through
her beautiful children. I see Debbie
through Jake’s inner strength, Zach’s carefree lifestyle and Nick’s
sassiness. Debbie is with us every day
whether we can see her or not.
Because
of Debbie, I know I will drink a few more margaritas and listen to Darius
Rucker a little more often….
I
know that when the world seems to be crashing down around me I will dig a
little bit deeper and fight a little bit harder
Because
of Debbie I know I will be a better person, friend, wife and mother. I will be a better person because our paths
crossed.
Because
of Debbie, I suspect that we will all be a little more resilient in face of adversity;
we will smile more when the skies are grey and we will hug our loved ones a
little tighter.
I am a friend
who also has come to realize that because Debbie was such an extraordinary
person, friend, wife and mother that God not only choose her to be an amazing
Mom to three wonderful sons here on earth but also someone who would watch over
all the fantastically wonderful kids in heaven who need someone to teach them,
do crafts with them or just support them in all things.
She has a
special place in all of our hearts. In
fact, she sent me a message through our new favorite website Pinterest, that
she would like everyone to leave here today with…..
It is a message
from one friend, Pooh, to his best friend Piglet.
If ever there
comes a day when we can’t be together,
Keep me in your
heart and I will be there forever.
