Saturday, March 26, 2016
I’m sorry that I can’t make the drive to the service today. I will send a donation to the American Cancer Society in Nancy’s honor. It doesn’t seem like enough somehow, but then nothing really seems to truly do her justice. This just makes me so terribly sad. I’ve been struggling for a week to write a proper tribute. Nancy has been such an important part of my life for the last 11 years that it’s really hard to accept that she is so suddenly, gone. I expect it must be that way for everyone.
She worked for me as a housekeeper, but that stops far short of describing what she meant to me. She’s been with me through 2 homes and treated them with the respect as if they were her own. She loved my cats and grieved with me over their passing. And my dog thinks she’s part of the family. Nancy was scheduled to come to my house the day after her death and my Yorkshire Terrier Sally waited expectantly all morning at the top of the stairs. Every week I thanked her for keeping my home in order and clean, but that never seemed quite enough either. She was part of my sense of well-being and my sanity. Sally the Yorkie got it right. Nancy was a part of the family.
She was also my friend. We talked about everything, we had few secrets. We discussed politics, husbands, families, growing up in the Midwest, and our crazy, younger selves. She knew a lot about gardening and basic carpentry and home maintenance projects about which I consulted her all the time and I valued her opinion. She loved movies and we traded novels as much as our secrets.
I have to get another housekeeper. I’m sure I can find someone to clean, but I’ll never find someone to replace Nancy.
