Celeste Côté and Lynn Lefebvre were my two best friends growing up. Lynn and I lived on the same street in Fleurimont, Quebec, and Celeste lived relatively far away. Other than seeing each other at school (Marymount, a Catholic elementary school), I was rarely ever allowed to sleep over at anyone’s house. The first time I was allowed to sleep over at Celeste’s place, we were nine years old and in grade four. The Pointer Sisters had a hit radio song that we sang out loud all through recess when I broke the news to Celeste my parent’s had said yes to a sleepover. I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it! I’m about to lose control and I think I like it! Yeah, yeah!
When you’re raised by a religious mother and a very strict disciplinarian father, receiving permission to leave the house even for one night is monumental. I got to see how Celeste lived and all of the cool things her parents did. They listened to great music, brought us out for pizza and I got to eat junk food! We slept in the basement and listened to the radio to our heart’s content. Those are great, cherished memories. We talked and laughed together incessantly and made up songs that I still remember to this day. Remember this Celeste? Kentucky Fried Chicken, we make chicken wrong! Wow. That kept us in stitches for hours. Shawn must have thought we were insane. Poor thing.
One of my childhood memories was of Celeste and Shawn’s mother, Donna. To me, she was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. I remember how Celeste and I would unlock her bedroom door to get to her expensive stash of make-up and beauty products. We couldn’t help ourselves. It had to be done. We needed to touch, feel, smell and try everything. I remember the huge portrait of Donna and Guy that hung in their bedroom. It’s singed into my memory because it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Two young lovers and their angelic silhouettes, head to head, totally in love.
I was devastated when I found out Donna and Guy were getting divorced and Celeste was moving back to Massachusettes with her brother when we were in grade sic. It sucked in the worst way. I was heading into high school and everything would change forever. Despite the distance, we never forgot each other. We would catch up every once in a while and when Facebook came around, we were both on it.
I had not spoken or seen Donna in many years but I still remember her smile, her laugh, her honesty when you really needed to hear the truth, and all the wonderful childhood memories that flood my mind. I was in shock when I found out about her death. It seemed so unfair. How much does one person have to go through in a lifetime? Donna had her demons, as we all do, but she was a real fighter. I will always respect her for that. She loved her family so much, which is reflected today through her children and grandchildren and how family is important to them.
I want to remember Donna and think about her as an angel sitting with other angels, laughing and having fun and waiting to welcome and embrace us all when it is our time to go. RIP. The memory of you is deeply cherished. Thank you. xo
