I don't think it's necessary, or even appropriate sometimes, to give someone in our life the title 'best friends', but if we were to do so, it would undoubtedly be Gene and Barbara.  We first met in the late 1980's when they moved to Maine from Massachusetts.  Their seven year old, Jennifer, came into the district where I taught bearing the diagnosis of 'Learning Disabled'.  A special education teacher in another district school said her needs were too severe for her to take on with her existing case load, so Jenn came to the school where I was the special needs teacher.  Jennifer is now 30 years old, has a Masters Degree in History and her resume includes Colonial Williamsburg, Bunker Hill National Park and one of the curators who got to inventory all of Andy Warhol's personal effects for a museum in Philadelphia.  I'm proud to have been her 'special ed.' teacher for  a few years, but I take no credit for her success.

When Jenn was new at the school where I taught, we invited Gene and Barb over for dinner.  i'm still not really sure why we did that.  My wife, Sue, hadn't even met them yet, and I don't normally make a practice of inviting my students' whole families over for dinner.  Perhaps it was the fact that it was very clear they shared the same family values we did.  Regardless, they said yes, and the rest is our very blessed history with our closest friends. They were in their fifties when we met, and Sue and I still in our twenties.  Sue prepared spaghetti with meatballs that were made out of ground moose meat we had gotten in lieu of payment for a show we had done.  We still laugh today that Sue didn't tell them it was moose until after supper was over.

Over the years, we've gotten to know them as friends and role models.  Their story is inspiring.  Gene was previously married, and he and his wife were unable to conceive.  they adopted three children, then conceived a fourth.  When all four of their children were teens, his wife died of cancer.  At the same time, Barbara was realizing that God was leading her out of the convent where she had served Jesus as a nun for several years.  They met at a Catholic's singles group, began dating, got married, and had two more children.  Jenn is their youngest. 

So many times over the years Sue and I have said to each other, "I hope we're still serving God so actively  when we're their age."  They never seem to stop or even grow weary.

In truth, I have always felt we were on the receiving side of this friendship a disproportionate part of the time.  These are the most generous, spiritual people I know.  They stood beside us like no one else when we were told we'd never have children.  I've borrowed their lawn mower many times. Gene has made or repair innumerable props for our ministry.  Lazarus and his sisters, Lazarus and the rich man, the swelling head illusion, the take apart vanish, my flaming machetes and my double balance board are just a few routines that would not exist if it were not for Gene's efforts and generosity.  One night when Sue was working late and I was in the midst of a panic attack, Barb drove from two towns away so I wouldn't be alone.  Just this winter, they loaned us their van for several months while we were between cars.  Somehow, they never get tired of us.

So yesterday, when I called to catch up after yet another too long of a time without talking, it was a shock when Barb told me she had, two days prior, been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The good news is, it has not spread to the abdomen, and the doctors are currently deciding how best to treat her.  Barb asked for prayer.  She said, "I'm asking my Catholic friends, and I'll ask you too, to pray to the archangel Michael, who is the protector from evil."  I thought, "I won't pray to an angel, but I'll certainly talk to his Commander in Chief."  I didn't say it to her because it just didn't seem like the time for denominational wise cracks.

Even as I've reread this much of my blog to Sue, I am crying.  They are closer than family.  Our denominational and generational differences  are nothing when we're related by Christ's Blood.  I don't pretend that many people read this blog, but I know a few who do, and there may be others.  Please pray for peace, healing, and blessing to this wonderful couple. 

Thank you.
-Richard