A few weeks ago a friend told me that Jennifer had died. Jennifer was a mutual friend. Although we did not see her much anymore, she was still a great friend. I first met her in the Arctic.
I was shocked to hear that Jennifer had passed away. We talked about her children and the things that Jennifer was noted for. When I got home I looked for Jennifer's obituary. I couldn't find it. I was told that her funeral would be in a certain church Nov. 30. This was odd because Jennifer did not attend church.
Several weeks later I was having lunch with my friend and asked him about Jennifer's funeral. He looked surprised and said, "Did I say Jennifer? I meant Joan!"
So all this time I was wasting my time grieving for Jennifer and she was still very much alive. The person who died was one of Jennifer's good friends. So I got yo Joan's funeral and remembered a very active person.
It's funny how today we have friends and we don't see them very often. I don't know if it has something to do with age when we don't go out very often or if there's some other reason that we don't get out with friends very much anymore.
What a story, you were grieving for Jennifer and it was Joan who died. Did you get inspired by this to contact Jennifer? Yes as I age I find it harder to get together with friends. But I always enjoy it when I do. A dear friend of mine died recently so we need to treasure the friends we can still meet with.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mixup! Thankfully your friend Jennifer is still alive. I'm sorry you lost another friend though. It's true that we often see so little of our friends these days. This is what bothers me most besides also not seeing family members as often as I'd like. This seems to be a very common issue.
ReplyDeleteOh Gosh! What a mix-up! I keep finding folks I knew that have now died. Maybe I better double-check! Hang in there. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteIt takes effort to keep in touch with friends when distance is a problem. Family matters intrude, too, but it's sad when friends die and we haven't seen them for a long while.
ReplyDeleteAs a former English teacher, I cannot help pointing out that you mis-spelt "GRIEVING" in this blogpost's title Red. I say this - not to score points nor to humiliate you in any way but just in the name of accuracy. I hope you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad when our friends start dying. There are times I get names mixed up, does Jennifer know Joan too. Take care, enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I hope Jennifer did not hear about this! I find too that getting together with friends has fallen by the way side. It seems to take an extra effort to organize something and I don't always care to be the one to initiate. Some friends are still in the work force. I have become guilty of mostly going about my own business filling my days with things I love to do!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, sad for Joan’s family but glad your old friend is okay. We are at the stage of our lives where social gatherings are not very frequent but meeting old friends would be as if we only saw them yesterday. Distance is a large part of that. People have moved to be closer to their children.
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh. That really was quite something!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to learn you didn't lose a friend after all. But at our age, Red, it happens more and more often. It's the way life works, until it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteWasn’t there a famous quote about the reports of someone’s demise bing greatly exaggerated? I should look it up sometime, but it can be awkward on the tablet when I don’t want to shut this window.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to have a group of old high school friends that meet up once a month for brunch. I hadn't seen these women since high school and only reconnected after I retired. We have so much in common with the same aches, memories, laughs and so our brunches are always great fun. I'm glad your friend Jennifer did not die and I think you should reach out to her now while you can.
ReplyDeleteRed, you bring up a really important point about how friendships evolve as we age. Life seems to get busier, and even though we value our friends deeply, it’s easy to let time slip by without connecting. John
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