9/9/09 Death of a Classmate

Oh Mr. Blog, I'm still so blue that I can't get going again. A friend of mine from high school died the day before yesterday.
Her name was Val Mroczek McLean and we hung out at high school together with a big group we liked. She was best friends with Molly McLean who I was pals with since 1966 when we were in Girl Scouts together and later married Molly's brother Marty. She was also the little sister of Kenny Mroczek who later married one of my best high school pals Sheila Anderson. Val told Molly in 1967, when they were eleven, that she would marry her brother one day and then they would be best friends and sisters. Val and Marty became sweethearts in high school.
Then forty two years later she had a heart attack and died. She had been very sick with inoperable cancer for four years so maybe God was merciful. I don't know. The funeral and reception were very lovely. They both came from huge Catholic families that had known each other at church for decades. I hadn't seen most of her relatives for thirty years but everyone looked the same but older. It was so hard to see her children. They are 21, 19 and 17 and so gorgeous. The perfect blend of Val and Marty. The girl, Johanna, is a show stopper for sure.
It just seems so unfair for her to die at fifty-two. She doesn't get to see her children marry. She doesn't get to see her grandchildren. She doesn't get to love Marty until they are old.
I haven't been able to get much done. I just want to reflect on what a lovely person she was for a few days. In high school, she and Molly were always together like peas in a pod. They were both kick-ass gorgeous at seventeen with drop dead figures and long silky brunette hair. Val had this soft speaking voice but a loud rowdy laugh that was totally infectious. She was so warm and friendly and vibrant and really authentic. What we used to call, "Up Front" in the 70s.
The day after Val died was Teddy's thirteenth birthday and it was hard to concentrate. Fourteen of his pals showed up for a pizza and pool party but it was a stormy day. We took them across the highway to the bowling alley and treated them to arcade games for an hour.
Then it cleared up bit and they all jumped in the freezing cold pool for the last hour.
Crazy boys. They had a blast and that was what was important.
So now I have two teenagers. At fifteen Troy has come out of the new teen moody zone at last right as Teddy is entering into it. Thank goodness they aren't in the moody phase at the same time! I love them so much and I am glad to be alive to be with them. I am proud of them.