Inheritances.....

Inheritances are a funny thing, huh?  Judi's money is primarily going to the boys but let's face it, that benefits us a great deal.....  You can't help but feel guilt as much as you feel appreciation.....  It's bittersweet.....

However there's another kind of inheritance that Judi left us...and that is her friends.  Some of her old friends----especially from Chicago---and from her time here in Champaign---I already knew.  As we went through this last wretched journey together however I met so many of her other friends....friends she met through her Buddhism, from Utah, from Iowa City, from Indiana, from Clemson and other friends and colleagues that were scattered across the country....  There is no question in my mind that one of the unexpected things about Judi's death, and the process of her dying is that I feel like I inherited so many of her friends.

Last year when we spent a week in Camp Ellis Maine, Judi told me that her friend Nancy (Richeson) who lived nearby was hoping to meet us.  We set up a time but that turned out to be the day that Ricky was sick and one of the other boys---can't remember which one now----didn't feel good either so we had to cancel.

During this last year  Nancy, who was a colleague who teaches at University of Southern Maine, was phenomenally good to Judi....sent many gifts...both for us as well as Judi....  I can't even begin to tell you----but it meant a great deal to Judi as well as to us....  In fact Nancy and Lin (another colleague and friend from North Carolina) were some of the last to visit Judi in South Carolina and help her begin to pack up house....

So this year Nancy and her husband Michael offered to put us up for the night in southern Maine, on our way to Lubec.  Generally I'm one to say,  thanks----I really appreciate it---but no thanks.  Somehow I felt differently about this though----I really wanted to meet Nancy and thank her in person, so I accepted with pleasure.

What can I say?  Lovely people.....the kind of people you feel are friends already.  A gorgeous 200 year old home-----furnished beautifully----lobsters and steamers for dinner----homemade pie for dessert----two dogs that the boys all loved----a bag of toys and games that Nancy had put together for the guys----wonderful conversation-----sparklers for the boys----blueberry pancakes and bacon for breakfast......it was amazing....and an incredibly special way to start our trip.

Much love and many thanks to Nancy and Michael.....their home will definitely go down as our favorite B & B ever!!  ....and thanks to Judi for the gift of new friends.....