As you might have read in my column Sunday, my close friend Lisa Fuller died last week, after a long and painful battle with cancer. We sang together in our church choir, and I can’t imagine who will sing the solos, correct my pitch when I need it, and do all of the other wonderful things Lisa did for me.
She was only 51, and I realized this morning that this is the first time I’ve lost a close friend who is close to my age. It feels different, to lose someone like that. Has it happened to you? Does it feel different to you, too?
Responses to “Sweet Lisa.”
July 29th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Leanne, I’m sorry for your loss. Your friend sounds like a wonderful person.
I’m lucky never to have lost anyone close to my age, although I did learn at my high school reunion that two members of my (small) class are dead… one died of a heart attack, one had some sort of congenital illness I’ve never known the details of that meant he was on crutches even in high school, and finally lost his battle to it.
If you’ll forgive me for being personal, I’ve noticed that you’ve been very focused on death and cancer and how to prevent cancer and the possibility you might die for some time now. Is this because your friend’s illness brought it into your mind in a new way? Anyway, I wonder if sitting down with a friend and discussing things like what would happen to Tomas if anything happened to you might do more to put your mind at rest than worrying about deodorant. Sorry for being in your business, it’s just an observation!
August 11th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hi Leanne, I am sorry for your loss, having been there myself almost two years ago, I know how you feel. Unfortunately, for me my friend and I were not in communication when she died, she had been diagnosed with Breast cancer a few years before but had been in remission after suffering through Chemo, Radiation and a double mastectomy at 35 she truly believed that she was a “Survivor” and in so many ways she was, unfortunately the cancer came back in her brain and she was taken way too soon and she will always be a beacon of light for me and I think of her everytime I pass the Survivor’s Park on Perkins, she would have loved that.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Having just lost my Mom less than two weeks ago I’m more sensitive than usual to anyone experiencing a loss these days. My experience with losing a friend my age and as close as yours goes back years. My best friend all through school died at 24 of cancer in 1984. He was the first one who could say anything to me, and did often, no matter what, and we’d laugh about it an hour later. Through all these years gone by I’ve developed “as close as brothers” friendships with several others, none of which I can imagine not being a part of my life. I’m sorry for your loss.