It’s Sunday afternoon the 11th of January 2015. On the 28th of December, I said good bye to my best friend Layla as she walked away, on her way up the ramp toward her plane heading home to Perth. The tears still linger from our departing hug. It was a mixed two weeks with her here. Joy, pain & reunion are three words that describe this visit best. Hers was the last face I saw just before I had that seventh eye surgery that took the last of my remaining sight. Her hand was the first I held after I awoke afterward. A friendship like ours includes both good times and bad. Happy hellos and angry good byes, adventures in a motorhome, laughs and tears, never ending phone calls and emails. Time spent together and time apart on separate coasts. Our kind of link is made from gold. Best friends sense 2009.
We met in Brisbane at Queensland University where I worked as a student housing coordinator. She was a new International student fresh off the plane from the US looking for a place to stay. We saw each other again that same day at the University Java Cafe where we lunched, talked and laughed till late that night. We have been friends sense that first day. The next day we met up again because she wanted to get her hair cut and dyed blonde. She was away from home for the first time and wanted to experience the freedom to do things her way. I knew someone who would do all that on a student’s budget and was reliable. I entered her name into a raffle for a years pass to the University Café’s free lunch menu that the University offers only to one new student a year. Of course she won because I had connections with the guy who did the raffle each year. He also gave her a Beer Card for the University’s Pub. She took a liking to the Australian style Lambs Pie served on Fridays, so we hooked up every week for that as a start to our weekend fun. I knew someone at a nearby Children’s Petting Zoo who needed someone to work evenings with the animals and got Layla that first job away from home. She worked hard at both her classes and at work often feeling discouraged by the amount of hours she had to put into it all. I became her Attitude Coach and encouraged her to keep herself organized and focused on her goals. She was always grateful for all the help I provided. I often told her we were a team and we would get her thru her classes together. After that first quarter I had decided that I liked coaching people through tough times enough to start my own Web business doing the same thing for paying clients. My favorite reimbursement was always Layla’s smile and latest X rated joke every Friday over that Lamb Pie. We carried on this weekly ritual for two more quarters. She was winning honors for her achievements from her professors. By the end of her fourth quarter she won an opportunity to transfer to UWA (University of Western Australia in Perth) to continue her Studies in advanced specialized animal behavior. I was torn with the prospect of watching her leave for the opposite coast so far away but I wanted her to reach for this new goal and do even greater things on her own. The day she had her hair dyed back to its natural color I knew she made that decision to move to Perth. She was ready to do all this on her own. We enjoyed a last minute party together before she flew west. We have been exchanging emails and phone calls on an almost daily basis sense than.
Within a week after Layla moved to Perth, I met Michael at a party my boss had at the beach. When I called Layla and told her about him, she said that it was about time I found someone else to coach to greatness, ha ha. Michael was also living away from his big family for the first time and looked like a lost puppy. I finally encouraged him to accept a job opportunity that his family offered him. A decision that he couldn’t quite decide on his own as it turned out. Layla said he maybe someone worth keeping around, so I did. By the Spring of 2013 Michael and I were engaged and planning our wedding. We had crazy fights and postponed the marriage twice because we were not able to make decisions without getting angry at each other. I thought it was over when Layla suggested I get away from him for a few weeks and come visit her. I decided to rent a motorhome and drove it myself from Brisbane to Perth across country over three days. Layla and I soon set out on one of the craziest and funniest road trips ever. An adventure that I will always hold close to my heart. We drove along the southern coast back from Perth through sand storms, hot days, beach parties, big cities, fun, fun, fun. One hot afternoon we stopped at a rundown diner in the middle of the desert where I called Michael and told him I would marry him and be his good Jewish wife. Layla laughed about that during our dinner that night. By the time we got back to my house in Brisbane, Michael was waiting for me with my small dog Pepper all smiles. Layla flew home the next day her job complete. The marriage was on again, planning things this time without any fighting. Michael and I went to the Philippines for our own vacation together soon afterward. Our marriage was that Fall in a private resort by ourselves away from everyone as Layla suggested. Of course I sent tons of emails and pictures to my best friend. Who wouldn’t. About nine months later Cleo became the third member to my new family. Layla will always be a God Mother to all my children whether she wants to or not.
This past year has to be the craziest year of my life so far. Soon after giving birth to my first son, we learned I was pregnant again with my second. This pregnancy has resulted in an up and down last seven months. Happy with life and healthy at first, I soon started to have serious health issues where I would gain weight, and develop swelling of my legs and arms. Thin to begin with, I began to lose my hair in handfuls. By June I was diagnosed with Alopecia. By October I was completely bald, fat and having vision problems with headaches. In November they found a tumor pressing against my optic nerve that had to come out. Lots of pain, anguish, and several procedures later, I am now totally blind in both eyes. I will never know what my two sons will look like as grown men. I will never again be able to see the sunset, flowers, Michael's face or my best friend. My second son Joseph is due to be born in February sometime. An event I happily anticipate. I don't blame any of my troubles of this last year on him. My health problems are not his fault. He is my golden child to be. Layla my best friend and God Mother to my boys has promised them her love and care if ever called upon. Michael has expressed his love and devotion to their welfare and will be the best father to the both of them ever. My sister is due in town to help out this month also. After these last two weeks together with my best friend, I know I will be okay. I will live on with confidence, care for my sons and enjoy life with the help of Layla, Michael and my other close friends and family.
Thank you, Layla for your friendship and happy new year. You are the best.
Sarah xx
