Jan

My friend Jan passed away at 2:30 am this morning. From the day she was admitted to the hospital until today was just under 3 months. Joe had said that she slept a lot yesterday, but at one point, she opened her eyes and said “Thank you.” He started crying.

I’m so glad he had that private moment with her, that moment of acknowledgement and love. He has been there for her every step of the way, as she was for him. I’m still numb, as I was sleeping when the text from Joe came through.

We all called her Aunt Jan back in the late seventies and eighties. When both Joe and I were living at her place, we called it Aunt Jan’s Home for Itinerant Artistes. She loved people and they loved her back. She was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, and Joe was the son of a Methodist minister – PKs, both of them. She was generous and kind and funny. I’m very grateful to have been her friend. When I started feeling trapped in Detroit, feeling that I had to stay there to watch out for my sisters, both Jan and Joe encouraged me to audition for graduate school, to make the move that would change my life. They knew I had to make that change even before I did. I’m forever grateful to them.

May she rest in peace. I know that heaven is celebrating a new angel.

Stay safe.