One such person in my life left this world May 11th. I hadn't seen Judy in many years. But when I read the death notice in the newspaper, I began to revisit those years when she was so important to me.
Judy lived across the street from my childhood home. In my teens, I babysat her daughter while Judy attended night classes at the local university and when she dated. She was a divorced mom at a time when it was more acceptable to stay in an unhappy marriage. I always admired that she took the right road, not the easy one.
After I graduated from high school, Judy got me a job at the general contracting firm where she worked in the accounting department. Watching Mad Men, I've often thought about Judy. She experienced a lot of the crap women had to endure in an office dominated by men. One in particular insisted on calling her "doll." One of my favorite lines of hers was, "Please don't call me a doll. A doll is a stuffed dummy. I am not a stuffed dummy." The women in the office were secretaries or bookkeepers, but never account managers. In another day and age, Judy could easily have done the work the men did. She was a smart cookie. Eventually, she earned her degree, became a CPA and moved on.
There were so many lessons I learned from Judy, about life and the working world, during our late night chats and in the car as we drove to work together.
Judy was at my first wedding, and I was at her second. After I got divorced, we drifted apart, and I didn't see her again. But I never forgot her. She was my mentor, my life line and my friend at a time when all were in short supply.
I hope Judy is at peace. She knew how to live and love well. I have no doubt that she is a welcome addition to the next world, too.
"Bye-bye, buy bonds, save chicken fat and join the WACs."
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