A Piece of My Childhood Died This Week
Death has been a part of my life for a lot longer than I like to remember. The loss of cousins and distant relatives when I was younger ushered in the loss of grandparents in my late teens. My mother’s death was the first to hit me hard, but her passing was somewhat expected.
Expected but not easy. Never easy.
The latest passing in my life has taken me by surprise. Not only by who passed but by what this passing represents.
A piece of my childhood has died.
Jan never came into my life. She was just always there. She and her husband were former neighbors of my parents turned close friends. Friendships between the children were fast to follow, and the amount of time spent at each other’s houses could never be accurately measured.
Play dates with the kids, sleepovers, and summer barbecues stay fresh in my mind as some of my favorite childhood memories. I remember catching lightning bugs in the front yard after spending the day running through the sprinkler. I remember Tupperware parties, movie nights, holiday get-togethers, and being one of Jan’s first clients when she became a hairstylist. I remember her amazing cooking, gorgeous singing voice, and beautiful heart. She was one of a kind, and so many of my childhood memories have her in them.
Life happens, and eventually, the friendships between the kids fizzled out. Getting older does that sometimes as people grow and change. Mom passed away, and my job took Dad and me around the country. We always kept in touch, but communication became less as time passed and health worsened.
Tomorrow, I will start the process of formally saying goodbye. It wasn’t until now that I realized Jan’s impact on my life, and I regret that I will never get the chance to tell her in person.
To Jan, I say thank you.
Thank you for making your home feel like my own.
Thank you for caring about me and being a safe place.
Most importantly, thank you for taking me to vacation Bible school and teaching me about Jesus.
I look forward to seeing you again one day.
To everyone else, please don’t wait to let others know how much they have impacted your life. Time is shorter than you think.
