Before I could sing "Happy Birthday" to Annie she was waving her hands at me in excitment saying, "My friend took me to mass at the Greek Orthodox church! And the priest let me bring some communion home."
Then she took my hand and led me to the kitchen, I sat at her table while she offered me the body and blood of Christ.
As I received communion, in thanksgiving for Annie's life, she hugged me and I burst into tears.
Years ago when my Mother and Father came to France to help me after I had cancer, (when my children were mere babies) and then after a several weeks they prepared to leave and go back home to California, I was sad. I didn't want them to leave, and I told them so. My Mother knew Annie live down the road from me, she saw a friendship blooming she said to me, "Be kind to Annie, show her your friendship. Whenever you help Annie, or show her love know that we are there too. Whatever you do for Annie, you do it for us too."
It was the most loving advice to give, I knew that in loving Annie I was also sharing my love with my Mother and Father, and in doing that the gap between California and home felt smaller.
Annie thanks you for your amazing response yesterday. She was glowing as she told me, " I want to live to be a hundred, and I think I can because I feel so happy to be alive."
I told her if we were still alive I would throw her a party, and hire a band to march down the street.
Thank you for making her day extra special, I appreciated that you too feel Annie's beauty.
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