Thank My Lucky Stars

    Mom, the bearer of bad news, text me this am, about a death of a friend of mine. She is the watcher of the obits, and I am thankful. Having lived far away for the past 36 years, she keeps me in the loop. The Jacksonville loop of crazy good, and insanity bad. ( Its a Florida thing!)
     While thinking about this sudden loss of an important character in my youth, Dr. Allan Schonberg, I was spent with happiness that I had him as a friend, teacher and work brother.
      We were students together, I in the cardiovascular lab, and he was an intern in cardiology. We grew up together, learned and made mistakes together, and he always promised I would go with him, when he went into private practice. AND I did, we worked side by side, for many years. We knew each other so well, that there was no need for words. I was his assistant in the lab, in the office and at his home. We were family, young foolish and very responsible at the same time. He had some demons, but honestly it was the 1970, the year of uppers and downers, in the hospital world. Gambling was in his blood, and it cost him more then people can imagine. I think and hope that through the years he fought hard, and found a peace and love of his family,children and grandchildren. Looking at all the pictures on his obituary confirms this for me. He has happy eyes, with people loving on him. A career that spanned forty years, and a hint of mischief still remained. I loved him, warts and all, and will miss him forever.He taught me so much, and even sent me to that course at Princeton to meet my Bill. ( to which he never forgave me, for leaving him! but I had to cut the apron strings!) ( Husband beats Boss, forever!) The day I had to tell him, I was getting married, was one of the hardest. He was happy and furious, pretty much how he was his whole life!
      We met up with he and Brenda in New York, a year or so later, I was pregnant and we went to a play. We also marched in the Gay Pride Parade, ate and he still tried to convince me to come back. I know I was good at my job, but somehow, I think it was just the closeness that we had, that he missed. He said, " How can I train anyone, you know me. I will take years to train someone!!" I told him, he was wrong, someone wonderful will come, and put up with you, and make your life better! He called me several years, to check on me, and my babies. I would see him, whenever I went home. Then, as with life, our contact stopped. People go in different directions, its normal. However you never forget each other, or the stamp that you make on each other. It remains, and then they are gone. I know he always knew what he meant to me, so I feel comfort in that.
     He was 70 years young old. Much living went down in those years. I celebrate your life Allan, and know that you are trying to make deals wherever you are. Just sit back and enjoy, thank your lucky stars that they aligned so nicely after all these years.
      Love is always going out to you, from me, your partner, sidekick, friend.
      I count myself Lucky to have known you.