Surprise

Judie and I were not anything close to being friends. We worked together. Our cubicles were next to one another. Since I was the older and more experienced worker, occasionally, she would ask for help with coding a case or some computer action that was rarely called for. I was happy to oblige. thing is... I would notice an item from my cubicle amongst her things: my folding plastic step stool, my ruler, scissors and on and on. I would ask for these things back when I needed them. She would calmly insist that they were hers until I showed her my name or initials somewhere on the items. I really believed her when she said that she thought these things were hers

REALLY?????

Often, she admired what I was wearing. If I had tired of the garment or, in fact, I wondered why I bought it in the first place, I gave it to her.

It was odd, that brief dream, where I heard splashing, saw water hitting a white hard surface and, briefly, shallower splashing. This weird dream woke me up! I shook my head, got up to pee and went back to sleep. Next workday, we were told that Judie had drowned in her hot tub the night before! Her male companion had notified another worker this morning. He had been at her house that night but had fallen asleep after sharing some drinks with Judie. He found her, again, in the middle of the night when nature called.

this revelation shook me! I had heard her drowning as I slept! I daren't ask the estimated time... didn't want to know! No!

At Halloween, Judie came to work dressed in several layers of small furs stacked around her body, high leather boots, a fur hat like Russian wear in movies and a staff with animal horns on the top. She was serious about her costume while others were having fun. Her outfit was to represent her practice of Wiccan. I don't know much about Wiccan. I was told that she was a witch. Really? What is a witch, anyway? They are cartoon characters or Halloween costumes or victims of superstition from Salem,Mass. Well, I remember that she would often remark that a scarf or skirt that I was wearing would make a lovely altar cloth for their rituals- that would never happen! I am a Roman Catholic!

Anyway, after her death, there were a couple of "gatherings" to recognize and celebrate Judie. I attended on- out of obligation. Didn't go to any others. Her family had an event where people could take something of hers-clothes, knickknacks or other things. I didn't go. Some of her clothes had been mine. For most of the time we worked together, she'd admire something that I was wearing and often, after a wash, I gave it to her. This gifting allowed me a reasonable excuse to go shopping- favorite past time.

Life goes on! I prayed for her, when I thought about it. Our Medicaid service clients demanded attentions- the manager split up Judie's case load so.... there was more work to do each day. Okay! It must be done. After her position was filled, life returned to the more mundane patterns. Just so!

A few months after all of this, I was trying to clean up my facebook entires and messages. As I scrolled down the listing through the older and more obscure entries, Judie's glamorous FB pix scrolled up!!!!! Judie??? Imagine that!! The picture was from several years ago and truly was quite glamorous! She looked great! Ah, well, I should "unfollow" Judie. Oh, and why was it still there? No time to fix the situation right now. Later!!! I will take care of this matter. Judie???? Hmmmm???

Finally, life offered a bit of time to "clear out" all the old FB stuff and Messenger. Well, here was Judie again! In a rascally mood, I imagined and composed a "message" to Judie in the afterlife asking details of what her life is like. I moved on, cleanign and giggling all the while. Obviously, I am easily amused. early day tomorrow. "Go to bed, Madonna"

On the ride home from work on the bus, I decided to send Judie and email, as a joke with myself. Judie was dead but still, in a way, she vividly lived in memory. What to say to an individual who had traveled beyond this life? OMG! I'll need to think about that. Besides, if she can respond to a message, why hasn't she communicated? Let's see..... what do I want to know? How will I limit my questions? Who am I kidding? Finally, after much ridiculous consideration, I stupidly solved the problem with the casual... "Hi! How are things?" Hearty belly laugh! Send!