A few years ago my mom was reacquainted with an old school friend. They claimed they were boyfriend and girlfriend for a while, but I’d never heard about him until mom mentioned him to me one Christmas soon after they’d met again.

He made mom happy. And she made him happy.

They hoped 2008 would be a good year – at least better than last year when Mom had a severe case of pneumonia and Larry had surgery for cancer.

It wasn’t a better year. In fact it was much worse.

Larry died on Friday.

Rest in Peace, Larry. You will be missed. Thank you for being there for mom in so many ways.