To Barb

This morning I read in the obituaries that a friend had passed away. I knew she had cancer but when I last spoke with her a couple months ago, the tumors had shrunk and she was hopeful. Barb was my personal shopper. She worked at Macy’s and when I needed help I’d call Barb. She’s outfitted me for weddings, TV appearances and just general life. It was always an event spending time with her trying on clothes, listening to her opinions, having her run around the store looking for a different size or a different color. She was always glad to see me. I’m sure all her clients felt that way, but somehow she made me feel as though I was the most important client she ever had and would ever have again.

I initially met Barb in about 1996 when she called me for a Feng Shui appointment because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I went to her apartment where she lived with her little boy, the delight of her life. Despite her cancer diagnosis, she was upbeat, funny, and invincible. At the end of the appointment she gave me her card—at that time she was a shopper for Dayton’s.

Over the years I had regular contact with Barb. She moved to a townhouse which I visited a couple times as a Feng Shui consultant----once because she had just moved in and another time because her cancer was back. On the reverse side, I’d have need for something to wear so would spend time in the dressing room with her. She was honest about what worked on me and what didn’t—and never pressured me to buy a thing. She’d call to keep me up on what was on sale (Dayton’s was now Marshall Fields) and what was "perfect" for me; likewise, I’d let her know when I was teaching a class she might like. We weren’t best friends, but she was definitely a part of my life. We never socialized together, but we still had friends in common. I kept up with how proud she was of her son as he grew up to be a young (and handsome, I might add) young man. I listened to her opinion as Marshall Fields was bought out by Macy's. Barb was so full of life, it never occurred to me she would die from her cancer.

In fact, just a couple weeks ago I thought I’d contact Barb to let her know there was going to be a Fashion Feng Shui class here in Minneapolis in May which I thought she’d enjoy. Plus I hadn’t heard from her for a couple months and needed to catch up. I didn’t know she was busy dying.

Here’s to Barb—for whom the heavenly cannon resounds your approach and the angels rejoice with the thought of you in their midst. Thank you for being my friend. May you rest in Feng Shui bliss.