They say we are all just walking each other home.

It’s a comforting thought, until someone gets there before you do…and you wish they were still walking by your side.

I just lost a dear friend. She was truly a unique light in the world. a bright, happy person overflowing generosity for others. Ready to serve when needed. There to listen when needed. And a great giggler on the back row of church.

Maybe most telling of all, she was a magnet for animals. Cats in her neighborhood who had been cast aside found their way to her house. Her dogs were truly the luckiest canines. She adored my dog, who loved her back.

It tells you a lot about a person when they are able to connect so easily with the natural world.

It’s hard enough to lose a good friend. It’s even harder to watch them go through dementia for years. She was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s 7 years ago. She knew what was coming. And while she certainly had her moments of fear and tears, she turned her worry into action, learning how she could prepare and what arrangements needed to be made for her care. Unselfish as always.

I guess her final act of unselfishness was to teach us how to go through something like this. With a smile when possible. With patience when she struggled for the words and did her best to communicate. With a sense of humor when she began to lose control of the movement of her hands, and she gave each one a name so she could chastise it when it failed her.

Our friendship had so many facets. Birdwatching. Helping set up a weekly evensong service at our church. Trekking to Trader Joe’s to scout the latest irresistible delight. Walking my dog on beautiful trails. She even got me on top of a brahma bull in downtown Denver…how’s that for trusting someone?

I will always miss you Jill. The hole in my heart is huge. But I rejoice that you are free of that body…I believe you are already surrounded by more cats and dogs than you could ever have imagined. I believe I will see you on the other side and we’ll share a giggle or two again.

You are my new irreverent guardian angel. Just as it should be.

“A generous heart is never lonesome.” John O’Donohue