Farewell for my friend Martha

In the last six weeks I have sent out 3 sympathy cards, and personally attended 3 memorial services.

Today was one of them, for my friend Martha Dyck, who was 98 years old, and ready to move on to heaven.
Waiting for her there were family members, especially her son in 1984, and husband Walter in 1996.

this picture of Walter and Martha was taken by my own husband in 1984

a copy of it was on the display table at the back of the church during the visitation

A rather eerie feeling this morning, as I watched Walter’s oldest son stand from his seat, walk to the podium, adjust his papers.  And his voice, echoing in the very same church sanctuary.
He is about the age now that Walter was when I met him.  Their grandchildren are almost my age, and time seems to slip or freeze as I glance at faces around the room.
Genetic traits carry on ever so surely.

There are stories aplenty about my friends.  Most folks who knew them have stories of their own to tell, about acts of kindness, advice for a blended family, of baking tips or gardening help.
Martha told me once in awhile that she loved to hear me read out loud.  A couple times when I went to visit her at the nursing home, I took along a little story or letter for an excuse to read to her.

This week has passed in a blur.  I do remember that I made a request of my son to please return my cd of WICKED to the box in the living room.  I got to listen to it as I was doing the ironing.  My iron has an annoying characteristic (as required by law) to shut off and cool down after a certain length of time.
When I have 8 shirts, 4 pillowcases, 4 cloth napkins, 3 boxer shorts to unwrinkle, well, this little lawful respite—-eerrggh.

So anyway, during the cool down, I came over to my computer and got the message from Evelyn that her mom was gone.  And WICKED was just about to the end, the part where Glinda and Elphaba have met quietly as old friends to pass along some much needed forgiveness.

and the words spoke directly to my heart

FOR GOOD
from the soundtrack of WICKED

(Elphaba) I’m limited
Just look at me – I’m limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn’t do, Glinda
So now it’s up to you
For both of us – now it’s up to you…

(Glinda) I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda) Because I knew you

(Both) I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the thing I’ve done you blame me for

(Glinda) But then, I guess we know
There’s blame to share

(Both) And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda) Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba) Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both) Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda) And because I knew you…

(Elphaba) Because I knew you…

(Both) Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good.

Rest in Peace, Martha.
We’re gonna miss you.

~~love and Huggs, Diane