Happy Birthday Jennie

Yesterday was my friend Jennie's birthday--she's been gone since May. In remembrance of an old friend, I lit a luminary on our front porch Monday night and kept it lit all day yesterday...was still lit this a.m. on my way out to work. Although we'd not kept in touch much over the years, she and her family mean so much to me. They are a strong faithful family that has lost a bright smiling face.

I called Jennie's sister Amy yesterday, to tell her that I was thinking and praying for her and the family. She does not live near her Mom and family, so I knew she would need some comfort that day. I called her about 11 a.m. as I knew her family would be at a mass for Jennie at that time. We had not spoken in many years as well...but that did not matter. We spoke of good times and sorrowful times. We spoke of the pain we feel at the loss of our loved one. We spoke of the time when we shall meet them again and that felt good.

I mentioned to Amy that as I was getting off the train Monday night, the next chapter title of the book I'm reading was, Birthdays in Heaven...so I read it weeping on the train ride in to work on Jennie's birthday.

Jennie, I hope that you, as a mother, taken from your daughters oh too soon, can now take care of my little Christine. She's not hard to find up there...she's the bright-eyed little girl who's probably playing in a park somewhere.