Real Friendships

This past month has been a complete whirlwind. I can't believe it is already July. But it is time to pay my dues to the blog, so here goes...

A couple weeks ago, I got a very disturbing text message on my cell phone. One of my closest friends from high school and a post-divorce roommate had just lost his baby to SIDS. I was stunned. This is not a first to have a friend lose a baby, but for this particular person, I was incredibly saddened. He had spent the last two years turning his life around, attending AA regularly, settling down with another of my friends from high school. He was so incredibly excited about being a dad for the first time. I remember seeing the sweetheart down at the marina for an oyster roast we had back in April. I made a few cracks to his wife about my condolences that the kid's genes were 50% his, but at least he was cute. To be truthful, he looked just like his daddy, which isn't a bad thing; after all, we were boyfriend/girlfriend a couple times as well.

I immediately contacted another best friend of ours after getting the message. We took turns going back and forth, waiting for more details. I was astonished at all I was told and all the wife was put through. It really broke my heart. I have no way of knowing her feelings, but knowing the additional stress and strain being put on her, I could not imagine myself tolerating well.

I set about contacting a few others from our circle, working to make sure he would have the support he needed during this time. And it happened. Even after years of us all going our own ways, starting new careers and families, we have never forgotten the bonds that made us all friends in the first place. In fact, one friend flew in from Texas to be at his side for the memorial. We took turns catching up between hugs and tears, trying to set aside what we were about to watch but not forgetting why we were there.

It was one of the saddest days I've had in a long time, watching two people I care about and deeply admire lay their two-month-old baby to rest. But I watched as they held each other and their other daughter, knowing that their "for better or for worse" vows are truly being tested, and admired their strength. I know that the days ahead of them will continue to put that to the test, but there are no doubts in my mind that their love for one another will see them through. I hope one day to have a relationship as strong as theirs, though I pray never to have to endure the same tests.