This is the eulogy that I wrote for my friend Laurie. I don’t love public speaking and in the end, I chickened out. At the time, I did send it to Laurie’s parents. I am sharing it here on my blog with you in honor of my old friend’s birthday, April 4’th. And because I know Laurie Susan would have really enjoyed and been supportive of my blog.
Hello, I’m Fredde Duke. Laurie called me her B.F. Best Friend. I first laid eyes on Laurie in High School, the year was 1970 and she and her then B.F., Carrie Fisher had just gotten these disastrous haircuts. They were profoundly ashamed, and actually spent some days not even bothering to come to school to save face. Those haircuts were in fact, probably the very first shags. Since both Carrie and Laurie couldn’t bear to be “seen”, they went out and bought these very sort of Ali MacGraw-Love Story knit hats to cover their heads and I thought they were just the most stunning, stylish girls, so I just had to get to know them.
I went out to breakfast with them one school morning at Nibblers. They were only 14 years old and already ditching school. I was impressed. I myself hadn’t starting doing this until at least 15. I was a senior and our paths didn’t cross again for some years.
I had the “happening” pad on the beach. Laurie Sue (what she liked to be called) would often come to visit. Sometimes she would be gone for hours, she had wandered down the road to Ricci’s (Martin) and she would usually reappear. But, not always. (more…)