story4680.xml

story4680.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I lost one of my very best friends in the entire world on September 11. Berry Berenson Perkins was the most beautiful person on the earth and the past year has been very difficult for me and for all of us who knew her. She was a true original with a joie de vivre like no one else. I was friends with her for 20 years. She told me on several occasions that she felt we were soul sisters and that I should think of her as my family. Our backgrounds were totally different. She came from a society family in England and went to boarding school in Switzerland. She moved to New York City when she was only about 20 years old and immediately became and "It" girl there. I was brought up in the suburbs of Los Angeles and attended public school. I went to college at San Diego State University and worked in tv news upon graduation. Althought we came from different worlds, we were the same person in our emotions and relationships and shares so much in common! We became instant friends when I showed up at her house to babysit her two sons, who she absolutely adored. She had left a message for me the day before saying she was coming to LA and wanted to get together that night. I knew the minute I heard the plane was from Boston that she was on that plane. The last time Berry was in Los Angeles, I was volunteering at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles with my dog who does therapy work there for the sick and dying kids. She wanted to come with me and help and when I told her the kids needed art supplies, she ran out and bought bags and bags of crayons, paints and everything they would need to brighten their lives. She was like that, always thinking of someone else. I can't bear the thought of living the rest of my life without her. I know that heaven is a much better place with Berry in there. She probably has God and all the angels dancing on the tables and singing everyday!