About 8 months ago, a friend of mine died from breast cancer. She was about my age and had 2 daughters, the youngest the same age as my oldest. We were not the greatest of friends. We kept in touch via Facebook, but she wasn't the friend I picked up the phone to call (text, actually) to see about getting a cup of coffee. If I ran into her in Target, we hogged the aisle talking, until we realized we would be late getting our kids from school.
She wasn't someone who was always in the front of my mind. . . until she died. I find myself thinking of her all the time. I think of her when I see her daughter at school, I think of her when I drive past the high school. I think of her at the most random times of the day, when I least expect it.
Whenever I hear "Fight Song" I think of her; that was her theme through her very courageous fight with cancer.
Today, I went to Tijuana Flat's for lunch with another friend and saw a poster hanging in their window. "Add Fire to the Fight: Make it Pink for $1" The very first thing I thought was, "Oh, Lisa". I was not planning on getting a taco, but I ended up getting 2.
There is a part of me that wishes I had been a closer friend. When our daughters were in dance together, my favorite part was sitting in the lobby chatting with her; I always felt like I was hanging with the cool kids. When B stopped dancing, our friendship sort of stopped too. Had it not been for Facebook, I might have only kept in contact during our random meetings at Target.
In thinking about her constantly, I find myself feeling guilty. Who am I to be allowed to feel so sad for someone I wasn't that close too?
I think Lisa will always be in my mind, reminding me to value every friendship I have and to get annual mammograms.
Thank you, Lisa, for the friendship we had and the thoughts of you that live in my head every day.
#LiveLoveLisa
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