Saying Goodbye To My Best Friend – Anne Hurley Obot

Last Wednesday February thirteenth, my very best friend in the world, my BFF, my Anne, suffered an aneurysm and died. She left behind a loving husband, a precious three year old son, an incredibly loving family of Hurleys, and a slew of amazing friends from around the globe. I’ve known Anne for thirty years since we were classmates at Westlake High School. We used to say we were hetero life partners and even had to convince our neighbors when we lived together that we weren’t gay. We loved each other that much. She was beautiful, she was a ham. She stole Carrie Fisher’s pillow case on a flight and gave it to me for my birthday.

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We hiked Half Dome in Yosemite on our birthdays one September. We stayed up a bit late the night before polishing off some serious wine, and celebrated afterwards with more wine, and pizza.

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She helped me fly my cats and parrot, Huey, first class on American Airlines when I moved from Mill Valley, CA to New York City. She flew for American Airlines as a flight attendant for twenty-three years. Once when we went to Peru when I was her pass partner, I had been “overserved” and called the flight attendant a waitress by mistake. BIG MISTAKE.

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We had an amazing trip kayaking through Thailand with friends. We showered together standing in this tiny bamboo box with a bucket of water being poured over us. She beat everyone’s ass at Scrabble.

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We did a safari trip throughout South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, we even did some drunken hippo hunting on our own. The camp staff was not impressed.

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We loved to laugh, drink wine, travel and just enjoy each other’s company. We’d always say that each other was our best audience. We thought we were that funny.

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Last Wednesday I was able to hold her hand before they took her off life support. I told her how much I loved her, how much I was going to miss her, how incredibly special she was to everyone she crossed paths with. I can’t imagine my life without her in it, but I have some unforgettable and hilarious memories to get me through the sadness. I have so much more left to say, but will save it for later — for now.

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I will love you forever Hurley — xo Woodsy

20 thoughts on “Saying Goodbye To My Best Friend – Anne Hurley Obot

  1. If i have said it once, i have said it a1000 times, you should be writing for a living, this is beautiful.
    I am here in nyc when u cone home f you need looking after/ cooking for, then call me….love carol xxxxxx

  2. What friends you were- providing each with so much joy and love. These photos and your write-up are a wonderful tribute to a special soul and friendship.

  3. Amazing. This is really so amazing, I could only hope that I had a friend this great. She was/is very lucky. Thinking of you.

  4. Thank you Laurel for these words and the photos. I will treasure the added memories of Anne and keep them close to my heart. I know how much she loved you and how much you filled a very important spot in her life. XOXO

  5. You had me at shower together. Trying to find Anne I stumbled on your Thailand piece through a google search and loved reading about your adventure together. She was such a dear soul. I always hoped i would catch up with her one day. How can my heart ache and yet not stop smiling while i am thinking about her?

  6. Anne lived life exactly how we all should, to its fullest. We are all blessed by having had her apart of our lives. Your memories will carry forward, and she will live in us all forever.

  7. Beautiful post Laurel. I will never forget Anne and consider myself a very lucky person to have been around the two of you. Best times ever! Love you.

  8. Wow, this is one of the most awesome posts I’ve ever seen as a tribute to losing someone. I just lost one of my closest friends to leukemia 2 months ago and held her hand when she came off of life support too so this really catches my heart. Loss is hard and I am so very sorry you are going through it. I wish this wasn’t way to learn about how you are doing Laurel but I am grateful that you shared this. It touched me at a very difficult time. My heart and hopes go out to you to move through this time with grace, love and eventually peace.

    with hugs from an old WHS friend,
    Dawn

  9. I’ve never met either one of you, but saw this one a friend’s facebook page, so I clicked.
    After reading the experiences you two had together, I truly wished I had been friends with you both, and had been a 3rd wheel on your excursions and friendship. I laughed at the crazy fun you had… and was teary-eyed feeling the warmth of your hurt.
    My deepest sympathy. 🙁

  10. thought a lot about you and your bff while hiking machu picchu last week. so great that you found each other and had so many years together as best friends, whether it was traveling the world or just eating pizza and drinking wine on the couch. love you.

  11. I just found out about Anne and then was led to your beautiful article. Too tragic for words. I hope both Megan and Anne can rest in peace together even though it was much to soon to say goodbye to either of them. I am so sorry for everyone’s loss.
    Julie

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