carol

Allen was my first friend when I moved to NY in January, 1985. 

He held the job I was taking at Lever Brothers, Brand Manager of Caress. Because I was single and age-appropriate, Allen made a point of introducing himself to me. Ostensibly he wanted to acclimate me to the world of beauty bars. His true motive was more social.

I came to NY with a job and no friends. But that didn't concern me. I knew NY would be my home soon enough.

Through Allen, I met my first group of friends. Allen had excellent taste in women, and when I met him, he seemed to know just about every available single female.

A month after moving here, Allen organized a weekend trip to Killington. I think it was on that trip that Carol, who was one of Allen's very close friends, soon became one of mine.

Carol, David, Abby and me

Carol's contagious laugh and general brightness, as well as her keen mind and sense of adventure, immediately drew me to her. 

That summer,  Carol and I were part of the same shared house in Westhampton that Allen again organized.









When I met Carol, she was a banker at Lehman Brothers. And while she was smart and ambitious, she was also laid back and fun. A year or two after we met, Carol bought a spectacular apartment on Gramercy Park, key and all.  

Soon after, Carol was sent to work in London. I visited her there, and together we bought twin wool coats for under $50 (I am wearing mine). 

And celebrated New Year's in Paris.

When Carol moved back to the states in 1988, she reconnected with her Penn boy friend, Michael, and soon they were living together. Carol never slept one night in her exquisite Gramercy apartment. 

In 1989 Carol and Michael were married, and soon after moved to Westchester. She was the first of my friends to have a baby. And eventually had three.

Carol was there when my mom surprised me with a 40th birthday party.

Terri, Alice, Carol and Jill

And she hosted a baby shower for me in 1992.

Lori and Carol

We stayed in touch, but saw each other infrequently. Maybe once a year. Some years more, some less. No reason. Just busy lives and a train ride vs a taxi ride away.

January 17, 2012 at Dovetail. Alice, Abby, Carol and me.

February, 11, 2014 at Cinema Café.  Me, Carol and Ellen.

Last October Carol and I met for lunch and a matinee (The Humans). She told me then that she had been diagnosed in June with an unkind cancer. But she looked beautiful. Age hadn't touched her. And as always, she was positive and optimistic.

She had recently been traveling with her family, and told me that in many ways she had never been happier. She was appreciating life more knowing how vulnerable it can be.

A couple of hours ago I get the news I'd been fearing. My dear friend is gone.

For the brief time Carol was here, she touched many lives, and made them all a little better. I know she did mine.