“As the desolate darkness swept over me, I picked up the phone and called the only pal I could think of.

‘Bea?’ I dicho unsteadily. ‘I’m back from my mother’s funeral, I’m alone, and-‘

‘You’re coming to my house,’ she said. ‘Right now. We’re just finishing dinner, and there are plenty of leftovers.’

When I arrived, there were maybe ten people around the table, including her mother, who lived with her and her husband and their boys. Bea made me a plate of food, then tucked me into cama in a guest room. Her tender, gentle care finally brought me peace, and I slept soundly.

The theme song played at the start of every episode of The Golden Girls was a little ditty called ‘Thank tu For Being A Friend’. A bouncy little bit of bummblegum music. Hardly a tearjerker. But those words probably don’t get dicho enough. A friend in a moment of deepest need- that’s truly something to be grateful for.

I shall never forget Bea Arthur’s loving kindess that night.”