Goodbye My Friend

Have you ever had someone walk into your life and touch you so deeply that you will never be the same again? Five years this past weekend, I lost her. I was just a young girl when I met Mary Lee Krieger for the first time. I was scared when my mom introduced me to my new teacher. But my life would never be the same again. She became my confidant, teacher,and in some ways my best friend. My days went from hours of lessons, to sipping green tea in the sun room. From playing amazing flute duets together, to talking about my boyfriends and school. I loved her, love her. She brought me a beautiful scarf from Japan, and silver jewlery that she knew I'd love. And we laugh together, drinking diet coke in the kitchen and trying out new canned food she brought from Japan. It was nasty, but I ate it anyway because she was so excited about me trying it.

I remember being so sad when she'd have to get up during our lessons run to the bathroom because she was sick. When the cancer started eating her body. When they moved the hospital bed into her living room and the lessons stopped. and it was just me and my friend. I remember coming home from college and visiting while she lay on the couch sick. She asked me to play what I had been working on. and I played for her and she apologized to me for leading me in a path that she thought I regretted...but I didn't. Because what she gave me changed my life forever.

I remember when it was the final days. When her frail body could hardly speak. and it was better they said if I didn't come as often. she was too weak and tired. I prayed for her to get better, but she didn't. and then I got the call. She was gone. In the days to follow there was no funeral, no burial, no place to mourn. the family's wishes.

My beautiful flute lays there. nothing sounds the same as it did when we played together in front of the big window, and I still picture the big grand piano that we played on every Saturday as I drive by your house.I don't think anyone ever understood me the way you did. I buy green tea, but it doesn't taste the way it did on those afternoons where we talked and laughed, and you told me about your husband Franklin and what a great man he was. But you are with him now.. and I will see you someday. But until then, I miss you my dear, dear friend.