On June 1st, just two days ago, my friend Muff would have turned 50.
She deserved to turn a half-century, and it chaps my old hide that she isn't here to celebrate with her family and friends.
Yes, I still miss her, and I was thinking that I would have enjoyed talking to her over the phone on June 1, and joking about how old we are getting, and how set in our ways.
I would have loved to have sent her a gift, some Irish Breakfast tea, or a wool shawl,perhaps.
Since this is National Doughnut Day, we stopped by Mighty O Doughnuts near Greenlake in Seattle, and I got 8 vegan doughnuts,and I took two of them into Nicks schoolroom to share with his teacher, Mr Finch, who then insisted that two of his students eat them.
I know that Muff loved doughnuts and would probably have had a nice chocolate glazed if she had been here with me today.
So I raise my doughnut high and say, "Belated Happy Birthday, beloved best friend!"
May you have all the treats you could ever want in heaven.
Love,
DeAnn
Friday, June 3, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
An Email from Another Friend of Muffs
I just found this email from a lovely former Marshalltown resident, Valerie, who knew and loved Muff and was also saddened by her loss. She found this blog and sent me this wonderful email on April 3, but I've been so busy I haven't checked my gmail account for two weeks. Thankfully, Valerie agreed to let me post this letter, and in subsequent emails, has said that she believes Muff is my guardian angel. I hope she's right.
DeAnn:
I just visited your blog on Muff for the first time. I recently connected with one old drama club friend, which led to BJ, and another and another. I too had the privilege of being a friend of Muff & BJ's in high school. Muff and I and another friend (Brian Peters) started a brief-lived mime troupe - which shocked all who knew me as a great talker.
I couldn't wait to leave M'town and did in 1981 and soon lost touch with all but family. I eventually moved back to Marshalltown in 1995 and was thrilled to meet her at Hastings one day! We didn't pal around as I was swamped with a new baby and 2 other children and an extended aging family, as well as our new son being terribly ill for a long diagnosing period with near-death experiences for him, my husband, and then loosing his mom and my dad all within 6 mo's. in 1999. I was also trying to get my BA degree and we moved to TX.
I learned of Muff's death from the high school reunion memorial page and was shocked beyond horror! But somehow, now that I can read your beautiful words on a precious person that I lost touch with for so many years, brings back all the goodness of hope that Muff (and BJ) always made me feel. Not knowing her for the college years and our younger adult life and seeing it from your eyes is refreshingly familiar.
I found myself saying, "yup, that was just like Muff!" so many times through my tears. I am oddly comforted by one (and only one) fact, that she went as gently out of this world as she passed through it. Like an angel's whisper in a baby's ear. Not being torn from us in a long-suffering and pain-filled way - brings the only thing near comfort in an otherwise unfair-as-hell lifestory of such a beloved and lovely person.
I just wanted to say thank you for what you are doing there and to wish you years of the ability to do it!
Thank you,
Valerie (Prochaska) Purcell
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
DeAnn:
I just visited your blog on Muff for the first time. I recently connected with one old drama club friend, which led to BJ, and another and another. I too had the privilege of being a friend of Muff & BJ's in high school. Muff and I and another friend (Brian Peters) started a brief-lived mime troupe - which shocked all who knew me as a great talker.
I couldn't wait to leave M'town and did in 1981 and soon lost touch with all but family. I eventually moved back to Marshalltown in 1995 and was thrilled to meet her at Hastings one day! We didn't pal around as I was swamped with a new baby and 2 other children and an extended aging family, as well as our new son being terribly ill for a long diagnosing period with near-death experiences for him, my husband, and then loosing his mom and my dad all within 6 mo's. in 1999. I was also trying to get my BA degree and we moved to TX.
I learned of Muff's death from the high school reunion memorial page and was shocked beyond horror! But somehow, now that I can read your beautiful words on a precious person that I lost touch with for so many years, brings back all the goodness of hope that Muff (and BJ) always made me feel. Not knowing her for the college years and our younger adult life and seeing it from your eyes is refreshingly familiar.
I found myself saying, "yup, that was just like Muff!" so many times through my tears. I am oddly comforted by one (and only one) fact, that she went as gently out of this world as she passed through it. Like an angel's whisper in a baby's ear. Not being torn from us in a long-suffering and pain-filled way - brings the only thing near comfort in an otherwise unfair-as-hell lifestory of such a beloved and lovely person.
I just wanted to say thank you for what you are doing there and to wish you years of the ability to do it!
Thank you,
Valerie (Prochaska) Purcell
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Third Anniversary
Next Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the passing of my best friend, Muff Larson, God rest her soul.
Last week there were a plethora of Irish shows on PBS about Ireland, Irish music, Irish history and language and Irish artists and authors. I recorded several on our DVR and tried my best to watch them all, though it was hard because as Tommy Makem was extolling the virtues of the Irish landscape and historic places, I kept thinking I could call Muff on the phone and tell her about this great program that was on, and hope she could watch it so that we could discuss it. Then comes the pain of realization that I will never be able to call her again, hear her voice, chat with her about all and sundry, laugh about our foibles, and share as friends. Then I cry, and wonder why, again, such a wonderful person was taken from this world too soon.
I hope you're having a marvelous craic wherever you are, my friend.
You are still dearly missed.
Last week there were a plethora of Irish shows on PBS about Ireland, Irish music, Irish history and language and Irish artists and authors. I recorded several on our DVR and tried my best to watch them all, though it was hard because as Tommy Makem was extolling the virtues of the Irish landscape and historic places, I kept thinking I could call Muff on the phone and tell her about this great program that was on, and hope she could watch it so that we could discuss it. Then comes the pain of realization that I will never be able to call her again, hear her voice, chat with her about all and sundry, laugh about our foibles, and share as friends. Then I cry, and wonder why, again, such a wonderful person was taken from this world too soon.
I hope you're having a marvelous craic wherever you are, my friend.
You are still dearly missed.
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