Today, my friend, Kathy, is having her funeral. She is far, far away from this earth and yet there is a gaping hole she has left behind. I’m listening to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sung by Judy Garland while I write this post because The Wizard of Oz was her favorite movie.

She and I, and a group of friends, went to see this on stage as it traveled through our town. She had a childish excitement when it came to The Wizard of Oz. Similarly, she had this excitement about life in general for me. My dear Katherine, as I loved to call her, taught me many things about life and friendship.

Kathy showed me:

• Each and every person should be valued. I loved when Kathy would get quiet because she was either upset with someone or just thinking. Kathy didn’t always like every person she met, but she didn’t purposely go around saying bad things about people. She knew when to keep her thoughts to herself and not put others down.
• Your heart will be broken, but life goes on and so must we. Kathy was there during my teenage years and into college as I questioned many things and was hurt. She was a great listener who loved me with her presence. I’ve never forgotten how much presence in one’s life can mean to another.
• Hard work is a necessary part of life. I met Kathy when I started working at Ryan’s Steakhouse. It’s silly that a simple place could become so much to a person and yet the group of people I worked with at Ryan’s became my second family. I spent 20-30 hours there weekly for years and you tend to bond during times like that.
• God is in every person. I met Kathy before she claims she became a Christian. Still, I saw God in her! She accepted me for who I was without question. In turn, I did the same with her. I loved her for that acceptance. I felt God’s love through her love and friendship.

God made a promise to humankind never to destroy the earth again and gave us the rainbow. Somewhere over the rainbow…

In the movie, Judy Garland’s character is trying to think of a place “without any trouble” and therefore begins to sing somewhere over the rainbow. Kathy’s sickness took her from this earth we call our home. Yet, I must believe Kathy passed from this earth and is somewhere over the rainbow resting in God’s arms and no longer in pain.

I love you my dear Katherine. You were a beautiful soul.

Take time today to show others they are loved. You just might be their “dear Katherine”.

© 2014 Susan M. Sims

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