As you know Dolores passed on April the 17th 2008 but her obituary did not run in the paper until April the 28th 2008. This would not seem such a special thing except for that day a man reading the paper noticed her obituary and told his wife Rose who it turns out was Dolores’ very best friend in High School. And that day my friend, that’s right, that day, was Rose’s birthday.
After the shock and dismay of losing a friend that she had lost contact with for over 30 years, Rose remembered the last gift, a belated Birthday gift that Dolores had given her in 1973 and for some reason she had kept it all these years. This gift was a book that at the time she first read it was at best a bit confusing and even more; the inscription had haunted her on different levels.
Over the years she had run across it from time to time and for whatever reason, never parted with the book. A few days after she learned of her long lost friend passing, she pulls down the book and read it once more. This time, not with the eyes of an eighteen year old school girl, but the eyes of a woman of 53, who had lived and learned many of life’s lessons. This time she knew its meaning and understood every word, and something more, she knew this book was not really meant for her but for her keeping.
She thought back to the time of Easter Break 1973, and the change that came over her very best friend. Before the break Dolores and Rose were as close as best friends ever were, but when Dolores returned it was a different Dolores she met. This Dolores had built a wall around her, and withdrew within. She announced that her parents were divorcing and that the boy she had been dating for over a year and had been madly in love with and had talked of marriage was over. Just like that.
Sometime later Rose and Dolores were friendly again but it was never the same as it had once been. They had talked of going far away to college somewhere, like most of our generation wished to do. We all wanted, or more likely felt driven to go somewhere else, anywhere else. Dolores knew that her dream of college was not going to happen. With the divorce and no money she needed to focus on getting a job and surviving. And this took her down a different road.
After reading the book again Rose knew where the book must go. She got in touch with me and let me know about the book and asked if I would be interested in having it, and of course I said yes, so she shipped it to me just the other day.
When I received the book I read the inscription and through the tears I heard my Beloved’s voice reading the words to me. With Rose’s indulgence I would like to post that inscription:
Dear Rose,
I know this present is a little late, but it wasn’t exactly meant to be a birthday present. The first time I read this book, I thought of you, and I decided that somehow or other you were going to have it! So, sometimes, when you feel like life is getting to be a little too much for you, open the cover and start reading. It helps, I know! I’m sure that you are going to fall in love with Kahlil Gibran like I did. Since you and I seem to be on exactly the same level, intellectually. I could almost see and hear your thoughts, as if you were reading it with me. I hope you will take what he says to heart as I know you will and use the book, as a kind of a “Bible.”
Love, Dolores
May 7, 1973
The Book is called The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran published in November 1926.
Dolores’ birthday is October 19th and my birthday is May 9th.
As I devoured the book, every word spoke of her life and wisdom. I now know on what she modeled her life, and I shall endeavor to do the same. Each word spoke to my heart and my intellect; each meaning resonated in my soul.
My God Bless you Rose,
The Demonmaster
It may well be time for everyone to read this very important book again.