A very special customer & friend
November 2nd, 2008
Audrey Westdorp
It’s odd how certain customers have a way with ones heart. It’s not often that someone who you have met at a wine tasting, who you have sold client gifts to and helped find her god-daughter the perfect shower present turns out to be someone you mourn for days.
I have always loved that through Art of the Table I have not only customers but new friends. I have met so many people that have touched my life through their kindness and friendship, yet when I have to say goodbye to someone, I figure they’ll be back, because they’re moving and they’ll visit. I have never had to say goodbye to someone like this. Although in many ways I would have to consider Audrey an ‘arms length’ friend she was a true friend. I didn’t know her ALL that well, yet somehow she was in my thoughts so often. From the minute I met Audrey and her doting hubby Steve, I realized that they were amazing people – especially together.
It was her smile and her zest for living. My friend, Audrey Westdorp was one of those people that exudes joy – and i don’t mean that lightly. I have tears rolling down my cheeks now thinking of how hard we’ve laughed together and how she actually meant everything she said and how she cared about me and I cared about her – even though we barely knew each other! When she showed up at the store, I would talk to Audrey for 10 minutes or an hour about anything and everything. I could have – and should have – talked to Audrey for days. I know I could have learned a lot more from her…
I wish I had the stamina and fervor this lady had. Audrey was diagnosed with breast cancer probably about 6 years ago. She was 54 when she died this last Friday and between that time she managed to live life to the fullest in so many ways. I loved watching Audrey & Steve, these two people related more endearingly, patiently and with such humor and joy. And yes, this amidst a horrible disease ravaging her body in every way.
Instead of Audrey letting this disease take her, she took it – to Chicago – and had her boob artfully painted! And that’s only the beginning; until a few weeks ago they were hopping around this fine world of ours enjoying each meal, each glass of wine, each sight there was to see. Have I told you that she had a smile on her face every minute that I saw her? When I think of that question “why do bad things happen to good people?”, Audrey is a great example of that. She is that last person one should ever see suffer.
On February 17, 2007 I received a letter from Audrey. It was a form letter to lots of friends & family. I don’t keep letters very often, but for some reason I did. And I went and found it today. She wrote that she was having a hard time communicating to everyone about her health status. She had been fighting again with the cancer spreading everywhere. She thanked us all for our thoughts & prayers. She gave us the lowdown on the treatments and progression. Yet she called cancer “this darn stuff” (that’s so Audrey).
In that letter, she had the most poignant words for us who are here still – words that I thankfully can’t understand firsthand but take to heart all the same. “Cancer has a way of overpowering life – it robs you of the enthusiasm for the future – it hangs like a heavy weight over your head and yet there is a hidden gift inside. Cancer teaches us to live in the moment, to appreciate the beauty of life and the world around us – to love the people in our lives – and tell them that every chance we get. Cancer teaches us how good it feels just to breathe.”
Everytime Audrey left my store I never thought it would be the last time. I really thought that she would be one to beat this cancer thing because she was relentless. It’s too bad that kind of leaving is not of our choosing. I will never see my friend Audrey again. And that really makes me sad. But Audrey is now in a place without pain and treatments. She is, in her red spiky hair, her funky clothes and her truly infectious smile, making others laugh. She has given so many others hope because she fought this thing in the way that she did.
Goodbye to you Audrey and thank you for reminding me of what it is to be a good person.
I’m going to go enjoy just breathing.
Amy
