Her smile, warmth, and interest always made me feel that I was her best friend

Perhaps you’re at the stage where your career of many decades — whether you were a mother and homemaker, had an occupation, or were involved with the community — is somewhat diminished, either because your children have grown up, you’ve formally retired, or you’ve ended your involvement with a particular institution or organization.

The absence of these commitments provides an opportunity to “follow your heart.” Now can be a time to pursue an interest in a totally new area as a second career, like writing a book after many years of teaching, going to shiurim, spending more time with the extended family, planting vegetables in your backyard, or finally learning how to knit or do needlepoint. Options abound for a whole new source of fulfillment. There are so many opportunities to explore, experience, or share with others.

Recently, I lost a friend, someone whose smile, warmth, and interest always made me feel that I was her best friend. Her name was Shifra, and I’d been davening for a refuah sheleimah for Shifra bas Malka Rivka during Shemoneh Esreh for several weeks. It was only after her levayah that I heard that those tefillos were no longer needed, that the Dayan HaEmes had passed the sentence and my friend had left us.