Tears, Friends, Love, and Ian Hunter

Ernie picked me up from work last night. He wanted to know if I wanted to stop at Fries and Peanuts for a drink. I think he kind of wanted to but I really wanted to just head home. It hadn't been a bad day, but long. On the way home he said there was a package for me. I kind of shrugged because I wasn't expecting thing and I was tired enough not to really care. When we walked into the house he called the boys downstairs and gave me the box. I looked at them all quizzically but then cut the tape and opened the box. And....

The Ian Hunter boxed set that I wanted to so badly, but couldn't afford.

I looked up at them and sputtered, "Did you guys....?" They were all grinning at me. Ernie said, "Wait until you see this," and pulled out the invoice....billed to DeDe Farrell. I promptly did the Cynthia thing and burst into tears. Evidently they'd thought it was something we'd ordered for Leo and opened it. When they saw it they all just stared....frankly I think they wondered if I'd gone mad and ordered it behind their backs. They pulled it out and saw DeDe's name on the billing. They promptly boxed it back up and waited for me to come home.

I just can't tell you....I wish I could articulate it, but I was so touched and overwhelmed by her kindness and thoughtfulness. The connections that gift made...from Mel to her to me and to the part of me that is the 17 year old still in love with Ian Hunter... I couldn't stop tearing up. Even now, the next morning, tears well up in my eyes.

What I did for DeDe was nothing....truly nothing, all I did was give people a vehicle to contribute money to her and everyone was so relieved to have something concrete to do because no one knew what to do, except to love DeDe and honor Matt and Mel's memories by loving her and supporting her.

I don't think there is any way I can thank her properly. I wrote to her of course, and I'm writing this now, but I can't really tell you all how much this means to me on so many different levels. 

I love you DeDe. I love you so much.

Oh, and I HAVE THE IAN BOXED SET!!!!