16 Comments
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Patio Chronicles's avatar

Jill, I’m sorry for your loss. Sharing the joys of your friendship at the same time of sharing the heartbreaks of it allows us to feel all the feels with you. Sending hugs your way and hoping your friend is at peace.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

Me too. And thank you.

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Kim Oser, CPO®'s avatar

Thank you for sharing. Losing a friend through distance and drifting is hard. I'm sorry you had to mourn this friendship not once but twice. I did not know you in those overworked days but based on what I know now, you are a dear, caring and compassionate friend. And if the hijinx I've seen of Jill in her 50s are any indication, I can only imagine what went on in the younger years. My condolences to you and her family. Thank you for sharing your memories, your pain and hurt, your laughter, your loss, and your friendship.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

LOL.... The shenanigans in those days....

Thank you for reading and for commenting.

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Debra Duby's avatar

Oh Jill! I just got a chance to read this incredible piece of your heart. I am so very sorry for your loss of a dear friend and felt every word. There was so much depth in this, so many stories. You absolutely should write a book or column. This was a gift to all of us. Sending love.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

Thanks, DD. I appreciate you acknowledging the depth and the weight of it all. These relationships that span years and/or decades tend to have a bit of everything. They mold you into the person you are today. When I started writing the piece, I didn't know where it was going to go, but I'm glad it led me down memory lane with the fun times we had together. There were so many ridiculous (in a good way) stories to choose from -- quite a few left on the cutting room floor. Stories for another day.

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Laura Oppenheimer's avatar

Jill - I'm so sorry. This is a lovely tribute to your friend and remembrance of her. May her memory be a blessing to you. Thank you for sharing <3

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

It is. Thinking about how I wanted to craft this post brought back all of the ridiculousness of some of our adventures (and there was a lot of ridiculous in them - a story for when we meet in person). I need to focus on that aspect as opposed to the sadness and despair she felt at the end. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

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Indie Lee's avatar

Jill, I am so so sorry. As tears run down my cheeks reading this, my heart aches for H and your friendship. Thank you for such a beautiful piece written from such vulnerability. May H rest in peace. Xx

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

Right now, that's what I'm hoping. That she's resting easy now.

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Kristi Koeter's avatar

Jill, sometimes words fail to convey the depths of our feelings. This piece was not one of them. I felt your sorrow, confusion, betrayal. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

I appreciate that. I struggle with writing on a good day and this isn't one of those good days. It's one of those life situations where I will learn to accept that this will not be wrapped up in a blue gift box with a white bow tied.

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Gwen Mayes's avatar

Very sorry to hear about the loss of your long time friend. It is always a hollow feeling when someone so close drifts and becomes unreachable.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

Yes, I feel for the people who were closest to her at the time this happened. It still hurts for me, but I know the pain for them is incalculable. Should I have reached out more after we talked or given her space? It's hard to know.

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Lisa Behar's avatar

H was a great friend to you for so many years and this is a beautiful tribute to those memories. Thankful to have been apart of some of them.

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Jill Consor Beck's avatar

Yes, you were definitely a part of them. There were many good times.

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