My friend Albina Nini recently left this earth.
I met Albina more than 10 years ago at a time I was sad, confused, insecure, afraid and depressed. She helped me to put the pieces of my life together and her compassion and love gave me strength. We shared a lot…she used to say I was the sister she always wanted because as a Latina I had the heart, feelings and passion like an Italian. Albina was of Italian descent with reddish hair, deep brown eyes and an amazing sense of humour. I especially remember our gatherings, with other friends in a vegetarian restaurant in the market called “The Table”. We were so often there that it was like our office. We went for walks to the river, to the movies, to garage sales, to book sales; she loved to have all the flavours of gelatos and time was always short for all we had to share. We both needed to be accepted just as we were.
At that time Albina had had the courage to leave her secure government job and was seeking something more meaningful in life. She spoke perfect English, French and Italian and was eloquent and full of life. She had been working at healing a deep wound in her heart by writing and following a program with amazing discipline. The emotional pain had started to affect her health at that point. In my brokenness all I had to share was the Jesus I knew. We promised each other that no matter what would happen or change in our lives we would always be sisters and care for each other. I had started to go to Lift Jesus Higher and she came a few times with me. After that, many things changed and we grew apart for some time but I always missed her.
I met Albina again a few months ago; she was very fragile, with the same heart, and the same sad eyes. My dear sister, had become as I once was when I first met her. At this time I wasn’t able to be with her as she needed and as she had once been with me. My heart is broken, I am with you today Alvina and you will always be part of who I am now.
“My beloved speaks and says to me:
Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come away,
for behold the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come
and the voice of the turtledoves heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come away…” (Song of Songs 2:10-13)
Maria
January 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm |
Hi,
I just found out about Albina’s death. I saw your post and really relate to it. I don’t know much about her death except that it was suicide and would love to talk to someone about Albi.. Please call or email if you can. Thanks
(613) 740-0223
na.mac2007@gmail.com
Thanks.
Allana
February 2, 2012 at 9:08 am |
BONJOUR!
I met Albi about 12 years ago. The memory i have of her, at that time, is of a very gentle and caring person. I met her for the last time around november 2010. She was not the same: i would say that she was a person in “unbearable pain”. I was not surprised when i heard that she put an end to her “suffering”. I sincerely believe that she has found the peace she had been craving for. I believe she is in peace now.
The memory of Albi that i will keep in mind is that of a very gentle and caring person.
Marie-France
February 20, 2012 at 5:00 pm |
I met Albina only two years ago.
We were colleagues and we lived near one another. One day I saw her at the local coffee shop and we started chatting. Albina was a very kind person, with many interests, and I liked her ability to question the “norm” around us. She was a great conversationalist.
We miss her here at work and my colleagues and I often talk of her. I think about her when I walk on Elgin St, remembering that she used to be my neighbour.
I hope you have found peace, Albina. We miss you.