Sheilaclapkin's Blog;

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My mother and father’s long time friend Allegra, the only one left from their large circle of friends called to say Good Bye. She is 98 years old. She said,” It looks like it is very near the time I will be going and I want to thank you both for taking me out and for being such good friends. Thank you for telling me you love me and I love you. Be patient with your family and keep doing what you are doing. Don’t forget me and think of me once in awhile.”

I can’t say Good Bye to you Allegra, so I will not. I told you to take my love with you and someday I will be there too. I only hope I can be as clear headed and laugh and chuckle my way through the rest of my life with the patience you gave me. It was always a pleasure to see you and share some delights eating, conversations, shopping for unique items and remembrances. We loved walking from restaurants exploring the stores along the way back to the car. One day we had to park across the street from our favorite restaurant. Allegra, as we crossed the street, you on your walker, an ambulance started to squeal and we could not get out of the street fast enough. With our hands waving in the air and our wild struggles to cross the street in time, the ambulance, stopped mid-stream and the driver made a bowing wave to scoot us along and waited for us to get past his lane.

We enjoyed being with Allegra in her later years as much as we did in our younger years. Allegra, Phil, Alan, Dean and Marcia lived kitty-cornered across the street from our house on California Street. My mother, Rose, and her kitty-corner neighbor Allegra had a wonderful relationship. They would do anything for each other. The only interference that I knew about is that they constantly copied each other in some little things hoping the other would not notice. They noticed, even the teeniest, tiniest little copy. That was all part of the fun. Passover is a hard holiday because the preparations and the setting of everything necessary to carry on the ceremony is a huge time consuming task. Allegra and Rose solved that problem. One year Allegra took on preparations for the two families and the next year the Rose took on the two family preparations. One year you worked your tail off and the next you and your family came as guests.

Allegra was thin, beautiful and had an enormous amount of energy and zeal in all of her years. She seemed to be a humming bird, always doing, going, fixing things, talking, achieving, accomplishing, participating, and happy to be everywhere. She was successful in life. She always smiled or laughed her fun to hear chuckle laugh. When you were with Allegra, she focused on you and you were her main topic. She asks her questions continually. She wanted to know all about what was going on in your life. She wanted to know everything you were doing, thinking participating in, and what you were planning, so she learned to be an expert question architect.

Allegra became a widow early in her life when she lost her beloved Phil; everyone misses Phil. He was the genius who knew everything about everything and had all the answers to complexities as well as everyday issues. He was kind and cared about family and friends. Allegra and Phil loved each other very much.

Allegra always went straight ahead and never looked back. Everything to her was good. She never had any complaints and if she did she kept them to herself. She was patient and kind to me. My mother seldom complimented me or said much about some of my hard won accomplishments, so Allegra did. Every time we would meet or talk she would say my mother would be proud of this and that. I thank you kindly dear Allegra, I have begun to believe you. My mother would be happy with me, you are right. Thank you!

Remember, we planned that you would buy my lunch on my birthday and I would buy yours until you were 100. I guess we are on our own now, but I hear lunch made by angels is quite good and you can have all of the fried sand dabs you want.

I cannot say goodbye, but I can say I love you Allegra now and forever.