9:17p

amor
instinctively, i ran to be by her side as she sobbed,
just like she has always done for me since 4th grade.
How could I not?
From day 1, she has been nothing but supportive,
caring, understanding, forgiving, patient...
damn, that girl has so much patience.
She let me grow from my mistakes even though they were hurtful,
and never turned her back.
So, OF COURSE it was natural for me to make my way to her side
of the crowd without question or pause.
That was my sister.

needless to say, it was difficult to watch her
and her siblings call for their mother as her coffin was
slowly lowered into the ground.
The very instant it was lowered, all of them wailed together
and reached out their hands to her.
Suddenly, they were kids again, afraid to be left alone.
I started to pray for them...it was all I could do to keep from feeling so helpless.

But then, I was awaken from this hopelessness by one thought:
"How lucky this woman was to be loved so dearly by her children".
She must have been some kind of miracle worker
balancing love with discipline with them.
I'm relieved to know that it can be done.

I felt honored to share in such an important moment
in my friend's life.
As sad of a moment as it was,
taking part in it was yet another confirmation
of how indelibly etched we are into each other's lives.