My BFF

For some reason I've been missing my friend Beth lately.  We've been friends since-gulp!-1968 when we were seated next to each other in 8th grade English class.  The teacher wanted to keep an eye on us both so he decided if he put us together right in front of his desk we would be quiet and behave.

Hah!  Here we are, all these years later, and we're still not behaving.  Whenever we do get together we still find ways to get in trouble, even at the ripe ol' age of 55.  Can't tell you how many shops we've been in and gotten reprimanded by management.

Beth is a grief counselor (her specialty) but also works in disaster relief situations like the recent PG&E explosion near San Francisco where she worked with the victims helping them cope with the situation, then went to a memorial service for a co-worker and her daughter who were killed in the same explosion.  She's a remarkable woman.

Many years ago I was asked to give a talk at a Relief Society birthday dinner.  They asked me to talk about the woman who had most influenced my life.  Two other women were asked to speak as well.  One spoke about Eleanor Roosevelt, the other about Ruth from the Bible.  I told them about Beth.  How she's never judged, always been there for me.  And, like a true friend, we've had some doozy fights.  Our love for each other has withstood it all.

Being far away from her is hard.  I have made some remarkable friendships here in Colorado, but there is something to be said for a friend who is your heart's twin.  We know, we feel each other always.  We don't have to explain because we've liveed  each other's histories.  Having such a friend is a gift from God.  Not everyone is so blessed, but if you have been, treasure your friend.

I miss Beth.