I had met Judy back in 1974, when I was fresh out of college, a newlywed, and a very new first year teacher at Nathan Hale School. Judy taught 6th grade and I taught 5th. Never in my life had anyone become an instant friend like her. We became soul mates, or BFFs as people would say today. It was a connection like none other in my life, besides the connection I have with Artie. Our friendship blossomed quickly and Judy and her then husband, and Artie and I bonded as couples. We began to socialize together and enjoyed each other's company.
Judy was with me through my first pregnancy and delivery, and quickly became "Auntie Judy" to my daughter, Lindsay. Soon she would announce her pregnancy, her first and only, and she was so excited. Katie Leigh was born and we became mothers together. We shared stories of our experiences and reveled in being moms.
As life would have it, ugliness entered her life when divorce became her new reality, when Katie was just 2. Judy didn't lie down and roll over. She tackled it as she did everything in life. I held her when she buried her mother, and then her father. We cried together at life's changes. She became a junior high math teacher, then an assistant principal, and finally principal. She was a strong leader, who always sided with her teachers. She dealt with so many difficult situations in her tenure as an administrator, but she never let anyone know how hard it was. She dealt with difficult parents on a daily basis, but always kept her humor and wit.
Six years ago she suffered a heart attack, the day before she was to retire. I didn't learn about it until months after it happened. Typical Judy. Not wanting anyone to have to "bother" with her unfortunate experience. She recovered from this setback and went on to live her life to its fullest. She traveled frequently - with close friends and sometimes Katie. She had other medical issues, but never let on just how serious they were. It was those medical issues that eventually took her away too soon.
Some of the greatest laughs I've ever had - belly aching laughs - we shared with Judy. We shared a love of Pink Panther movies and up until the last time I saw her we still laughed about certain lines from those movies. She showed me her bling-ed out iPhone case, so typical of Judy. She loved rhinestones, diamonds, glitter, jewels...BLING. When I saw her last we laughed out loud when we saw that we were wearing similar clothing, and had almost identical purses, Charming Charlie, of course. Soul mates.
Today I watched as they lowered my soul mate into the ground. I wept, as did so many who came to pay their respects. I wept because I wanted more of her. I wanted to see her and talk to her one more time. I wanted so badly to laugh with her again. I thought about all the things we should have done together in our retirements. We were supposed to be old ladies together. I am sad that Judy will never see Katie get married, something she wanted so badly. I am sad she will never hold a grandchild and experience the purest and truest love of all.
My heart is emptier now because she is gone. I leave for Italy today and will take her with me. I know she would never want me to be sad in such a beautiful place. As her brother in law said to me today, Judy's death and my leaving for Italy is a true example of Sunrise Sunset.
