I just got word that a very
good friend passed on a few days ago.
She had been valiantly fighting cancer for several years, doing her best
to both overcome the disease and not let it stop her from living her life in
the meanwhile. There was even a happy
period when she seemed to have succeeded and to be cancer free – how happy we
all were.
But cancer is an insidious
enemy, and in the end could not be defeated.
What is strange, though
nowadays it seems to be more and more common, is that although I really
considered her one of my best friends, we never met in person. We met on the internet, and all of our
friendship, discussions, exchange of opinions, support, commiseration, and
celebration, was carried on on-line. One
of my wishes was to at some time be able to meet her face to face; this will never happen. But I never had any feeling of knowing her
less well, or of her being less of a friend, than people that I see frequently
and can shake hands with. The opposite
was true, I think that we had a deeper and more serious relationship than I
have with many of my “real” acquaintances.
What a strange world we live
in, where our best friends are virtual.
But, if we really think about it, until not so very long ago, many deep
relationships were carried on for years through writing letters. Remember those? Waiting for the mailman to come and bring the
next chapter of the adventures of our friends?
And those were the days of real letters, pages and pages of information,
not the shorthand of email…
Most of my dear friends, and
especially those that I value so much but that live so far across the world
that I might never actually get to meet them in person, I have met through the
dogs. Through lists, groups, people that
expressed interest, photos on line, and many other possibilities, but always
having in common the love and passion for dogs that develops into friendships
that expand to many other interests and activities. Friendships that continue for years and
years, as there are always things we have in common and that we can “talk”
about.
For Habibi and all of the other
four legged friends, all this sitting at the computer and concentrating on
incomprehensible words on the screen is impossible to understand – running
around and chasing a ball outside would be much more fun. But I really have you to thank for being
responsible for my participation in this world that is so fascinating and
contains so many wonderful friends.
I deeply miss my friend, and
can only believe that she is at peace and accompanied now by all the four
legged companions that enriched her life and brought us together. Rest in peace, Sally. We will meet face to face sometime at the
Rainbow Bridge…
