
She raised up both her hands, looked at me straight, and calmly said “I am not afraid, I am in complete acceptance, I am totally at peace”
At that time, I understood her.  But I still reiterated to her that my prayers will still be for a miracle.  

In her last few days, she actually manage to instill bravery in me, for when my time comes.  That’s one of the most valuable lessons I have learned from her or from anybody. 
She said life is  a gift, enjoy it to the utmost you can.  Life’s end is inevitable, accept it when it starts lurking around the corner. 

Natalie was her whole world.  Linda prepped her for a world without her.  But I saw sadness in Linda’s eyes knowing she can’t support her emotionally now.  And she had big hopes that the next few months Natalie will find resources from her family, friends and Us, her Tita’s & Tito’s, to help her deal with the devastating loss of her mom.  Let’s keep that hope alive cause that was Linda’s only worry.  

Linda passed on her own terms, with everything already prearranged by her, in her favorite home, with Natalie at her side, surrounded by friends who stayed so devotedly with her. And she was at peace, and in full acceptance of her fate.  
If death can be called beautiful, hers surely was.  

When we go shopping together, and she goes frivolous about buying expensive purses, I yell at her telling her she does not need that a $1000 purse or whatever she touched, she’d always say it’s within her budget, she had saved up for.  She had an  $800 a month budget for food & miscellaneous.  She’d sometimes tell me she can’t go shopping anymore till her next $800 is available. I never had any reason to not believe her. 
I loved that she maintained me as her friend knowing me as I am.  
She knows my whole family, my background, some of my past, she even sold me my present home. 

Our friendship was based on raw emotions, she tells me when I’m getting cocky.  And I can tell her she’s a feisty spoiled brat.  We never had to sugarcoat anything. 

She shared her past to me too, but limited.  She has never revealed to me how well off she really is.  I liked that part of her. 

At her deathbed, while I was holding her hand, she said me “the very first time I saw you, It was our group realtor meeting.  I just knew I wanted to be your friend.  I knew you had to be my friend”.  
That was a such compliment simple & sweet.  A big boost of ego for me.  And being at her deathbed, she was comforting me, more than I was comforting her.  That I will never forget.  I wish I had been a better friend to you, Linda. 

We did sometimes annoyed each other.  Now I regret that I didn’t hang out with her more often.  And I realized now that those lotto trips were not for her to win the lotto but she enjoyed my company during the long drive to & from the stateline. 

When I first learned about her doomed diagnosis, I asked her why she gave up so easily? Why!!
She was strong willed and had always fought for everything she believed in, politics, Republicans, vaccinations, family, everything !!
Why, I asked her while laying in her bed, why you gave up so easily on yourself, your life?  


Love Is a Never-ending Duty  for All

Linda Linda Linda
How I miss you !!
Linda, My lotto buddy, we drive to the Cali stateline every few weeks. 
Linda, My late night hunger resolver buddy.  Always ready to go with me to a 24 hour restaurant whatever time
Linda, My go to person, when things at home are OTR.  She let me stay house for a couple weeks actually a few years back. 

And lately, Linda, my mishap savior.  
A week ago, I was late for a doctors appt, I was rushing driving. Never hit a red light, never saw a cop during my maniacal speeding, never ran out of gas even though my gas gage empty warning was lit already. All that while I was chanting Linda help & she helped . 
Last Thursday, I lost my phone wallet combo at a grocery.  I rushed back to the grocery, searched & checked out the spots I was at, nothing.  So I was told to go to customers service, while in line I was praying for my phone to appear.  For some odd reason, I thought of Linda, at that exact  moment I saw one of the cashier walking toward customer service with my phone in her hand.  
Last Friday, I got a call from my a doctor, I had an important appt with him today  Sept 12, at 130pm, it usually takes 2 hours for a visit, mostly spent waiting,  I really really didn’t want to be so late for Linda’s viewing & celebration of life.  The call was from my doc’s office secretary asking if I want to move that 130 appt earlier to 10 am.  I promptly said, yes I would.  Then just before she hung up, I thought of Linda, and started saying “Linda is this you messing with me”. Cause,  you guys, know she’d do something like that, right.  I actually called the doctors office right back to just confirm again. 

I can say, that after attending the novena all 9 days, I have gotten to know Linda better. A whole lot better from all the anecdotal about Linda. She never really talked much about her Philippine elite life.  

Natalie, I will surely miss your mom. She was my beloved friend and partner in crime. Have so many great memories of our misadventures and time together . Her passing leaves a hole in my heart. Sending you love and hugs in this difficult time.

I love you Linda!
I will see you again, one day!
To Natalie,
May you always feel the love and embrace of Jesus. May He give you strength and peace during this very difficult time.
I love you! Jesus loves you more!
Dory V Pulliam 

OBITUARY

Linda Enriquez Barretto

August 24, 1951 – August 30, 2022

Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery

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