My mom and Mary met in seventh grade and remained best friends for decades – until Mary’s death from Leukemia. They shared secrets and opinions and their mutual outrageous humor. They even shared their funeral wishes hoping those wishes would be followed.

“But our kids will probably be responsible for that ritual,” they lamented.

When my mom arrived for Mary’s memorial service she listened as mourners commented on the beautiful flowers, the music and the crowd. Then my mom saw Mary’s final joke – a request Mary made years ago as she giggled, “Wouldn’t that be fun?!”

My mom did not dare look around or speak; she just kept her eyes forward through the service, especially when she heard someone comment, “She was a strikingly beautiful child!” The framed photo in front, surrounded by flowers, was of a lovely young girl; it was the photo Mary wanted. But in the frame was not a photo of Mary, but a photo of a very young Elizabeth Taylor.

(S-R archive photo)

 

---

---