Rest In Peace, My Friend- Nada Kohm 1958-2018

As I sit here trying to think of all the things I want to say, I feel numb. I’m in shock. 

Last night at 9 pm, I received a text from Nada’s phone saying that it was an emergency and that I had to call right away. 

My friend has been in pain for a lot of years, and I spoke to her yesterday morning and she sounded really bad. Worse than I have ever heard her. Upon receiving the text, I thought; “Oh no, she must need me to call her an ambulance.” 

But when I called her phone, it wasn’t my friend on the other end. It was her daughter saying that my friend had just died in her sleep. 

The paramedics were there and there was nothing they could do to save her; she was too far gone.  

Nada Kohm was my best friend. We spoke everyday, if not every week, on the phone since about 2011. 

We would talk to each other for hours, and it felt like no time was ever going by at all. 

We would talk about our shows, and our lives, and this crazy place. 

We would laugh, get mad, and laugh some more. 

Nobody will ever understand the amount of stuff we shared. 

She brought so much happiness into my life. I can’t stop the waves and the tears from coming down. 

Nada was such a good person. She was sweet, she was funny, she was witty, and she was always my voice of reason. She just had such a good nature about her, and she was so patient. She did have a bit of a feisty side, but I don’t think we would have gotten along so well had she not. 

She said exactly what was on her mind all the time, and I respected that about her. She loved others. 

I spoke to her yesterday, the same day she passed. I spoke to her all the time. I can’t believe that I will never speak or hear her voice again. It hurts so much. Every time I would pick up the phone to call someone I would instinctively call her. 

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve said; “Ive got to call Nada.” We just had a  connection.

I met Nada right after her husband passed. He had lung cancer and she nursed him till his last breath. She was in a very dark place after he died, and I would just listen to her cry for a good two years at least.

 I would always encourage her to be strong and that she had to be strong for her daughter. 

And after a couple of years, she changed. She was strong and I told her that all the time. 

She had a lot of health issues for quite some years. She would have a lot of good days and bad days. 

But she continued to live for her daughter. After her husband passed, it was just the two of them. If I could just know one thing, it would be to know that she’s with him now. That would give me so much peace in my heart. He was her soul mate, and she was never the same after he passed. 

I am so thankful that I was able to tell her how much she meant to me the other day. How much I appreciated her and our friendship, and that I loved her. She always said: “you’re my only friend, Jen” and it would always touch my heart, I wish I would have told her that. Nada always stuck up for me no matter what. Whether I was right or wrong. And never because I prompted her to. Because she genuinely was my friend. I’m gonna miss her so much. I’ve never lost a friend like this before. How do you go from speaking to someone every day to never again? 

I look forward to the day I will be able to think of her and be able to smile. But that’s not today. My heart is broken. It’s shattered. I have no more friend. No more confidant. Someone to laugh with, get mad with, cry with. Share all of our hurts, our disappointments, and our joys.  

There is a hole in my heart. My friend is gone. This hurts so bad. I feel so alone. I’m in a daze.

I will always remember her and the friendship she gave me. The words keep flowing and yet I still can’t say enough about her. I will forever be thankful for all the good she brought into my life and everything we shared. There will never be another her. I am mourning, yet I celebrate her, and all that she brought into my life and any of yours. 

“Show up for people. Offer what you can. Be unselfish. Love people when they need it, even when you feel they don’t deserve it.  Be a healer. Be kind. 

Show up for people. Because when you’re hurting you’ll want someone to show up for you.” — Alex Elle

She was one of those people that always showed up for me. 

I LOVE YOU NADA, with my whole heart. I can still hear your voice. And I dread the day I will forget what it sounds like.