With all the postings on FB it is hard to read all and be in the know of every detail with people you are friends with. You see a posting and you breeze through without giving it much thought. However every now and then something catches your eye and makes you go back to see if you understood what you glanced over. More often than not it was general comments and it wouldnt make much difference in your life whether you read it or not. This was not the case with me earlier this week. While FB is great for getting in touch with friends, it has also announced a passing of one that I havent seen in a number of years. Possibly a year since graduating college. One of my friends, Rhonda Lee Turner, passed away last week. Not much is known why someone in good health passes at 41 years young. What caught my attention was that her friends and the people whose lives she touched were posting comments and thank-yous on her profile. Very saddening to hear the loss of a friend this way. But to see the comments of how her friends valued her, loved her and held her in high esteem was not only comforting, it also defined who Rhonda was. Rhonda was from Joliet, Illinois and arrived at Tri-State University in Angola, IN in the fall of 1991. She got roped into being friends with some other kids who came from Vermont (me), Cary Strzepek from New York, Jason Yoder (no relation, but yes, asked this plenty of times), Lesley Cochran-Timm, Nikki Brown, and Lee Stafford - all from Indiana. Rhonda was well liked and one of the most genuine, good natured people I had met. Going to a small school you got to know people really well and it was a unique experience to spend the next four + years growing up together. I use the term growing up loosley as when we were together we only required one person to be mature at any given time. Fast forward now 19 years, rhetorically asking from time to time Where are they now? and not taking more time to stay in touch doesnt make you feel like you held up your end of the bargin when it came to a friendship. We get busy and go our separate ways. It was nice to see that Rhonda found her own passion in the years after school. She followed the course to better understand what life was about and how the power of love, inner voice and clarity can lead a person to a level of happiness not many of use get the pleasure of experiencing. In closing, while I am upset that the chance to catch up has passed, I thank you Rhonda for reminding me the importance of friendship and taking the time to stay in touch and maintain friendships. Perhaps this was the final lesson. Judging by the postings left by your students, you were a great teacher and a great friend. I agree whole heartedly.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:28:28 +0000
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