Today, two years ago my best friend died. On the one hand it feels as if a life time has passed and yet it is as if it was yesterday…
There are only a handful of people who come into your world, and touch your life in a dramatic fashion. Some of the people are just flickers of light during a long life, while others are a consistent glow for years. For me, Marlene was my consistent glow.
I met Marlene 27 years ago. We immediately started chatting and never stopped! For 25 years Marlene and I were inseparable. We would be in one another’s company for hours and within 10 minutes of leaving one another, one of us would remember something else that we forgot to mention and call the other. Our first words would be “Hi Poepies, I forgot to tell you…….. “
Marlene was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known. Nobody looked good next to her. At most we merely enhanced her beauty… Marlene was totally unaware of the effect her beauty had on people. She was very, very hard on herself. I miss that beautiful laughter of hers – nobody could laugh (or cry) like my friend.
25 years of friendship!
Marlene was a human SPCA. It is ironic that her heart, that was so big, eventually let her down.
I was privileged to deliver her eulogy. At her memorial service I saw a sea of faces. Old friends, new friends, school friends, work colleagues, family. Marlene had compassion that was scary… always wanting to help – to do… The word “Love” is a verb; not an adjective…Marlene knew that. She lived that knowledge.
She always made her friends and loved ones designer gifts.
Marlene and I agreed many years ago that we would “make” gifts…I thought we would bake biscuits or something… My birthday was the first “homemade” gift event…my dear friend made me a porcelain doll with photos of Vic, the boys and Danie in a necklace…. How could I ever compete with that???
My porcelain doll
Marlene’s personal best friend had to be the phone…She LOVED speaking on her cell regardless of whether she was driving or not…she spoke on the phone every spare minute she had. Marlene and Sonja spoke from the crack of dawn… I am a late starter, but we spoke until late at night. On the Tuesday of her death I spoke to her at 10:45am – I started phoning her just after 3pm because I was in Marlene chat withdrawal…Needless to say I think Marlene was already chatting to angel Gabriel and boy did she have a lot that she wanted to tell him…
Christmas was Marlene’s favourite time of the year. For decades our families celebrated Christmas together. Her home looked like SANTALAND.. Marlene was an amazing cook. She had a standing rule – everyone had to have two helpings of food to qualify for dessert! She was an amazing hostess.
Marlene helping me “get married”
Marlene had a relationship with God that was a very personal relationship. I don’t know anyone who worked so hard at herself – Marlene strove for perfection…The day she died Marlene was at peace with her God. Marlene is exactly where she has wanted to be for so many years – at the feet of her Heavenly Father.
Marlene was so happy the last couple of weeks of her life – the business had picked up, she had forged beautiful friendships with some of her clients and that was a source of great joy to her; Marlene was at peace in her friendships and was on the brink of a new life with an old friend.
The perfect hostess, the life and soul of a party!
Marlena, I love and miss you. I still feel lost without you. Thank you for a lifetime of chats, unconditional love, all Vic’s school concerts you sat through. Thank you for your loving support with Vic over the years; the times you kept me company when Vic was in hospital. Thank you for “tolerating” my busy house. I KNOW my house drove you crazy with all the grandchildren. Thank you for allowing me to believe that I made better pancakes and fudge than you did…I still don’t trust those statements, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt!
Vic’s Kitchen Tea…
My dearest friend, I hope you are resting at the feet of your Heavenly Father; I hope that you are experiencing the peace that you craved on earth. I hope you and Vic have organized a wonderful anniversary party in Heaven celebrating the Ultimate Event in your life.
Thank you for being here when Vic passed. She told me before she lapsed into a coma that her Gramps and you were in her room; that you were there to guide her on her final journey…
Marlene and Vic at Marlene’s 50th birthday Party
I am selfish when I say “I wish you were here”. I miss you little sister and best friend!
Most precious friend
