Dorothy Higgins died yesterday.  She was my friend This morning when I was trying to think of something to say that would be an appropriate statement about how fine she was as friend, mother, grandmother, and in all those other familial relationships, I opened my e-mail in-box and found a letter to Dot’s family from her granddaughter Lori. The first part of Lori’s letter was personal… a beautiful tribute to her grandmother.  The very last part of the letter was a statement explaining what she learned from Dot about love. She won’t mind my sharing it on the BLOG.  

LOVE IS FRIENDSHIP THAT HAS CAUGHT FIRE, IT IS QUIET UNDERSTANDING; MUTUAL CONFIDENCE; SHARING AND FORGIVING. IT IS LOYALTY THROUGH GOOD AND BAD TIMES. IT SETTLES FOR LESS THAN PERFECTION AND MAKES ALLOWANCES FOR HUMAN WEAKNESS. LOVE IS CONTENT WITH THE PRESENT; IT HOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND IT DOESN'T BROOD FOR PAST. ITS THE DAY IN AND DAY OUT CHRONICLES OF IRRITATIONS, PROBLEMS, COMPROMISES, SMALL DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND VICTORIES, AND WORKING TOWARD COMMON GOALS. IF YOU HAVE LOVE IN YOUR LIFE IT CAN MAKE UP FOR A GREAT MANY THINGS YOU LACK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE NO MATTER WHAT ELSE THERE IS,  IT'S NOT ENOUGH.