Old lady friend

Mrs. Wallach passed away on Monday. She slipped away as her son and her friend Flossie were reading to poetry for her. I can’t imagine a sweeter way for her to leave the planet.

For almost two years I spent part of each weekend with her. We read The New Yorker, demolished dandelions, watched CSPAN and The Daily Show (she referred to Jon Stewart as “her friend”), chatted about her family, movies, politics, and the world of education.

And, we ate. We journeyed throughout Berkeley to some of her favorite places. We had lattes at the Café Roma on College, pizza slices at The Cheese Board, fresh bread and pastries at La Farine. We always made friends at Bateau Ivre, the butchers on College, and Andronico’s where we shopped for groceries.

Each day was a little adventure in its own way and I’ll miss the mornings in her garden, the strolls throughout Berkeley with her knuckley but smooth hand in mine (which she always said were nice and warm), the runs for cake. But, especially, I’ll miss her, her humor, her charm, her wisdom and grace.