I’m not good at being brief but will try as I have so many things to memorialize about my dear friend of nearly 40 years. A few years ago, I felt very grateful about where I was in my life. I told Bo I needed to visit those people who were a part of my life and, at that time, I never realized how import they would be in the direction I took. Mary was one of those people who always stood by me. Bo and I went to Beech Mountain, which isn’t on the way to anywhere except heaven. Although we hadn’t seen each other in years, we greeted with our standard “Tramp” followed by a big hug. I was blessed to have had the chance to tell Mary how important she was to me. To mention a few things: She showed me how important a great education was for our children. Through that example, my daughter became a lawyer like Joel and Doug. She showed me that spending time with your family will always be treasured more than any professional or financial gain. At 30 years old, I saw snow for the first time at their home in Beech Mountain. Every Christmas, she brought Christmas trees and wreaths to Miami for her friends and sometimes they still had snow on them. Every Panther and Heat game will always be associated with her. We would crack up at Joel when he would get so excited in his best cerebral, monotone cheer…”go heat.” It was quick so you’d have to pay attention. She hosted my wedding shower and my baby shower for my daughter Brooke. I look back and now appreciate and wonder how she balanced being a wife, mother to three smart/active boys, champion of child drug intervention, and so many other acts of selflessness. The only times I can remember (with a smile on my face) when Mary admitted she needed time for herself was two weeks after Hurricane Andrew. She said, “Ugh…I need a facial.” I cracked up. I’m not sure we even had electricity then. The other times were when she took time for a bubble bath in her big girl tub. She never turned away an unannounced visit. She insisted you come up and talk to her while she covered up with bubbles and soaked. (Very awkward for me…only). You have to love a woman who was very sure of herself.
Fast forward:
Just prior to the world shutting down, we met again at Joe’s Stone Crab. We had both been there before but never together. That was the last time I saw Mary and will forever think of her at the mention of Joe’s and cherish that night not knowing we wouldn’t pass that way again.
God Bless you my friend. May God speed your journey to reunite with all the two and four legged loved ones you left way too soon. “Thank you for being a friend!”
We love you Tramp, Becky and Bo Tharpe
