A Note to Our Friend
The world is a crazy place. Emily, Margaret and I have a good friend whose husband is stationed at Fort Hood. They have a perfect little baby boy. We were so relieved to hear she and her family are okay. But it brought back memories of the Oklahoma City bombing. To tell you the truth, any terrorist act brings back those memories. It is something I have spent years pushing far away from myself. Then something will happen – I’ll see a story on the news or read an article in the paper – and boom, there it is again, all that chaos and devastation rising inside me…but in the end, it is just a story. Something far outside myself. And the feelings go away as quickly as they came.
for some reason, she always makes me think of wildflowers
But this time it isn’t that easy. We have a friend there. It isn’t just another story on NPR. I can’t just click my tongue and say how sad and try to push it away with thoughts of my own meaningless daily routines. This is someone we know, and that makes it real…and this same friend was there during the OKC bombing. And she is one of the sweetest, kindest, most loving and wonderful people you’ve ever met. She is one of those rare women who have a genuinely good heart…and it seems so wrong and unfair that someone who makes the world a better place, sees the best in people, is always there for her friends, is such a good mother and wife…that someone who is such a gift to this world must face two terrifying disasters in her lifetime.
But she survived them both. And she did it how she always does things – with class. If she reads this, I want her to know I think she is incredibly brave and strong…and I want her to know that there will be only be good things in your future – warmth and light and a family you adore. You are the one who is there for everyone else when they need a friend, and know we are all thinking about you. I’m so glad you are okay, and I know you will take this pain and turn it into something good for the world…because that is just the kind of woman you are.
We love you lots and lots.
Just a note about you… most people would never notice, acknowledge, or most certainly bother to praise the good in someone else this way, I guess it takes one to know one, eh?
oh man…know what I’ll never forget? This guy who actually CHANTED for me before auditions…and sometimes it worked! What can I say, I draw the amazing people to me! I am nice because I have the nicest, most supportive friends in the world.