mother nature is a man and other observations..

I have a friend Edith, who is 96, with wisdom pouring out of her pores. She has a favorite saying, and I quote “You take yourself wherever you go.” I visit her at a senior residence. She has never complained in the nine years that I know her. Everyone fortunate enough to be in her path, loves her. “This is my family” she tells me, because she has none. She wanted children, but she wasn’t able to have them. She graduated college when few women did. She married and divorced quickly. “He was a mama’s boy” she told me. She was an only child and welcomed back with open arms after her divorce. She became a dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Dogs became an integral part of her life, especially Bichon Frises, and she even became a judge for the breed. Her room is adorned with large photographs of the two she raised and loved. She went to a hotel in upstate New York one weekend, and met her second husband. She adored him, but their time together was short. He was 20 years older, and she became a young widow, and never dated again. She told me he was the love of her life. I spent what would have been my 50th wedding anniversary with her. She comforted me with her soothing words. “We had men who loved us.” We disagreed on only one issue. When she moved to the residence about 14 years ago, because she so disliked living alone, she met a man. He gave her wonderful little stuffed dogs. He said he was too young for the place, and wanted out, and he so wanted Edith to move with him to California. They spent time together…..but, it was what I wished for her, not what she wanted. He left, she stayed. I would love to be able to celebrate Edith on her 100th birthday. She tells me not to look for another man in my life. “He will come to you when the timing is right.” I believe Edith. My mother’s name was Edith…………….My wonderful beautiful friend Edith passed away  March 7 peacefully. She was 97. I will miss her and love her and of course, will always remember her words and wisdom. I was lucky to have her in my life for ten years. Rest in Peace my loving Edith.