It was just last April..
April 21st to be exact..
I was in Orlando..
helping my father pack..
He was going back to
Maine to finish his final days.
His brain cancer was getting worse.
He could no longer stay..
So I came home on April 21st..
Just in time to celebrate my sons birth..
He was ten years old and excitedly played..
With all his friends in the bounce house
I ordered for this day..
After all it was his double digit birthday..
A great day to celebrate..
My friend and neighbor Linda
sat and talked of days gone by..
Years our two boys had played
baseball together
Both of us always involved
in every way
both of us proud parents..
as we watched them grow and play..
At Christmas time we
always made crafts side by side.
We made Angels for our Christmas tress..
The children hung them with pride..
But on this particular day
my dear friend seemed
somehow lost inside..
and so we started talking
as the children played outside..
She said she knew her husband
was seeing someone else..
She said her heat was breaking..
then my heart began to melt
Then she claimed tonight
she was making him move out..
She sat right here next to me
and cried in my arms..
I could only offer friendship..
as she did for me many times..
She soon wiped her tears..
and said this is not the time..
Lets go enjoy this party..
I will be just fine..
She went home
to talk with her husband
sometime after five
she looked tired and very sad
but she said she would survive....
I kissed her on the cheek..
I told her I am always here..
Do not hesitate to call
you know that I am near..
By ten o clock that night..
I was thankful the party was done
My son was in the yard
playing with some new toy..
When suddenly I heard yelling..
It was my little boy..
Crying about an ambulance at Linda's..
Ohh God I thought ..
she is probably having a stress attack..
Her son Kyle called me then
on the phone.
he told me the ambulance
took his Mom away..
He knew I was a nurse
and wanted to hear
she would be OK..
Of course she will
I promised..
She is just under a little stress..
Don't worry sweet heat..
she will back home in no time at all..
Now just go to bed
get some rest
and you will see her tomorrow..
I still hear those stupid words
echoing in my head.
A promise to a ten year old...
Who trusted me like a Mom
I got the call at eleven,
that she was gone ..
had died in the ambulace.
But I said that can't be!!
She is way to young..
She has a ten year old son..
I promised him and my son too..
How could she be gone..
What am I going to do..
A heart attack..
as sudden as that..
My house was filled
with tears for days.
I cried for not seeing..
I cried for all I should have done..
I cried for Linda
and the promise I made to her son..
I cried because she told me
her heart was breaking. that very day.
and in some ways I wonder..
if it really did.
Break from the pain..
of love lost..
break from the betrayal..
of a love she did trust
The funeral was the hardest..
To watch her little boy Kyle
lead each and every person..
directly to the casket to see his Mom..
Telling everyone to say good bye..
and with each and every person
he cried..
I walked up to her casket..
She was not my Linda I thought..
I touched the butterfly necklace
A gift to her I brought...
One I knew she would
take to her grave..
very similar to the one she gave me..
I wear it always
When I bent down to kiss her.
My tears spilled on her hair..
and I whispered I know honey
Life isn't fair..
My son took it hard
that she died on his Birthday..
But I told him
God must have planned it that way..
He took only the sweetest angels..
on very special days..
So.. April 21st..
I lost a dear friend..
This day will always have..
a bittersweet blend..
To my friend Linda ..
We will meet again...
I love you and I am watching Kyle..
I know you are with us.
I feel you from time to time..
I am glad you are watching him.
as any proud Mom.
We miss you!!!

ERICA

To Linda.. My neighbor and best friend..Died April 21st 2002 11:00 PM.. I know you have all read about all this death in my life.. but I lost four people in one short year and I want to make sure each one has a poem for them here..because I know you will all understand..