Paulette Jane Dryden

A beautiful soul left us few days ago. Some of you may not have known her. Trying to describe her for you is difficult. If you were looking for a good day, you could count on her to begin it that way. If you needed to laugh, she could furnish it for you. If you needed an empathetic ear, she was there. Most importantly, if you needed truth to be told, she was there to give it to you, without judgment, just the facts of it. How many folks are there who can do that and do it well?

We met in Elementary School. She was the tallest girl in the class. I was the shortest. But, she never seemed to notice or care because were friends. She was also the smartest, the most dependable, and the student the teachers chose to lead the rest of us by example. She was a born leader, the one we all expected would take the hardest jobs and get them done. People would follow her lead without question. How many folks are there who can do that do it well?

Not long ago, were at a gathering of friends and I overheard her say, "I've always been so shy." And she was serious. Shy? This powerful human being (who could walk into the room and everyone would turn to her as though they had been waiting for her to arrive. She would get things going), said she was shy! I reminded her that all the successful gatherings we ever had were due to her expertise, leadership and tenacity. She looked at me in disbelief, then her changed to recognition. She smiled (that smile where he whole face is engaged in the act of smiling and fully enjoying itself), she chuckled and then she said, "Oh my god, your right! I am awesome!" She knew how to tell a joke, laugh at a joke, and take a joke. How many folks do you know who can do that and do it well?

And she loved! She loved her family, she loved her children, she loved her husband. And if she loved you, get over it, she was going to be there for you forever. She was kind, she was intelligent, she was funny, she was beautiful inside and out. What a force of life she was and I know she is organizing a celebration in Heaven right now. How many folks do you know can do that and do it well?

We all need someone like her in our lives. That piece of our hearts in which she resides will still be filled with the memories of her strength and power and unadulterated joy. But, oh how much we will miss her! Our tree of life has left us behind.

And how many folks do you know who can do that and do it well?

I know one. Oh Paulette, how very much you will be missed!

-Written by Sandi Gross-Pound