It was the consistency. She was as nice when I first met her as when I last saw her. Always kind, always aware. No matter how little or often I saw her I always came away feeling loved and appreciated. It's interesting to be thinking of my friend Simon, who passed just recently, because they're like souls! Selfless, genuine, kind people who brighten the world around them even in spite of their aliments they always rose above.
I haven't had many interactions with Sharon over the years, but the few we had were always meaningful. I remember meeting her with my brother, and our cousin Chris. She had a cousin Cheryl who would visit from the Cape. We'd all hang out together for many years. Sharon was always sweet, polite, and upbeat. I always thought she was wise beyond her years as she had a kindness and maturity you didn't see in most people never mind a kid her age.
Once they got out of high school I didn't see Sharon for many years. When Facebook came out we got in touch and would say hello from time to time. She would talk with me and my brother and leave nice comments about pictures of myself and my brother and his family. I would keep up on reports of her epilepsy which up until there I didn't realize she suffered from. I would silently cheer her on!
It always struck me as odd that she wasn't married, or had children. I wondered how such a cool lady like her hadn't been snatched up long ago, lol! Christmas of 2011 I took my annual Xmas job at Newbury Comics - they had just moved over to the Natick Mall. I was at the end of a long, and unfortunately toxic relationship. I was having a particularly bad day. I mean Donna I was loooowwww that day. All of a sudden Sharon walked up to me and said hello. We hadn't seen each other in years, but it was like it was 91 all over again - cool, comfortable, relaxed! We chatted for a couple minutes. I didn't get a chance to say hello to you, you were in shopping mode! She gave me a hug, and we said we'd catch up soon. It was great to see her and though I didn't know it at the time she planted a bug on me.
That would also be the last time I saw Sharon. We still would chat on FB from time to time. The last time we talked she had put up a post about having these really vivid, lucid dreams. That's a favorite subject of mine as I've always had very vivid, lucid dreams - which means when you dream you are aware that you're dreaming and therefore can recall a lot of detail and have control/ full awareness of your actions.
Between my last visit with her and chat on Facebook I thought about Sharon a lot. About how seeing her and how simply being in her presence made me feel better, the things I knew that were important to her, I always thought she was very beautiful, funny, smart, an old soul. I had been trying to work up the courage to ask her out on a date! I didn't think you could have a sweeter partner than Sharon, and I was very interested in her. I had gotten out of that toxic relationship, but needed time to know myself again, to be sure I was ready. She would deserve nothing but my absolute best. I thought I'd have time.