Friends Like Wine, Age Better With Time

The neighborhood kids and their parents!

Sometimes life can seem unfair. But life is life. There are times when there isn't a logical explanation as to why something happens.

Recently a long time family friend died. Terry Murphy and her "clan" moved two doors down from us in the 1960's. She had 3 boys, Kevin, Bobby, and Eddie. In 1967 (or so) Timmy was born and joined the neighborhood fun. Kevin is my brother Mike's age....Mike is younger than I (I'll leave it at that)so I did more babysitting of the boys than actual playing with them. I remember babysitting the 3 boys on the day Timmy was born. I spent the day, and well into the night with them as we waited for their dad to come home and announce they had another baby brother.

When Terry came home from the hospital, I remember instead of money for my time babysitting, she bought me a beautiful green striped sweater. I don't know why I remember that. Yes I do, you see we didn't get many new clothes when we were younger. My parents couldn't afford many new clothes. I got a lot of hand-me-downs (and they were nice hand-me-downs don't get me wrong)from friends of my parents. I'm not complaining, but I do remember this beautiful green striped sweater.

Terry was born in Scotland and had a very thick Scottish accent. We loved listening to her talk. She had the brightest smile and the warmest heart...and she was strict. If she caught you doing something wrong, she'd tell our parents...and that was never good! She was a no-nonsense lady. She'd tell you the truth about something, whether you liked it or not...and she was funny.

Terry was diagnosed with liver cancer in June...by the middle of November she was gone. Her memorial service was this past Friday.

We drove to Southern California on Friday to attend the memorial service. It has been close to 30 years since I'd seen most of the family. I hardly recognized the "boys". But the minute we all started talking and sharing memories it felt like we were back on Shipman Avenue all over again.

Other neighborhood kids were also there as well. We shared our memories of jumping on our bikes and being gone all day, hide'n seek at night and neighborhood parties. None of us could believe how long it had been since we'd seen each other, or more honestly even thought of each other. But here we were, at the funeral of someone we all loved and admired and who helped shape us, in some way, into the adults we had become today.

Terry's memorial service was exactly what I hope to have one day...a celebration of life! Family and friends all coming together to remenice, reflect, laugh, cry and feel close again to people who at one time were very important in our lives.

Goodbye Mrs. Murphy (said with a scottish brogue) you will be missed.

Father,
Again I give thanks to You for the friends You have brought into my life. People like Terry who I know, you placed in many of our lives, to help make us the people we are today. Father, Terry allowed You to use her as your instrument and I pray God that I too, will be used by You to share Your love. Show me Lord, everyday, how I might impact just one person. To let one person know You and Your love by how I treat them. Lord, I know heaven is a better place today because Terry is now there. I hope that when I finally get to come and spend eternity with You, Terry, along with all my family and friends who have passed on before me, will be waiting there at the Pearly Gates, to welcome me home.

Thank you again God for placing Terry and her "clan" in my life and into the lives of so many others. They have blessed us richly. Amen.