SAYING GOOD BYE TO MY FRIEND SUE

During this journey that we call  LIFE. We meet so many different kinds of people. Some good, some bad, some sweet, some sour and some are just not worth knowing and then there are some that are friends for life. I have had the honor of knowing someone that I call a friend for life. Her name is Sue. She is what southerners call a damn Yankee. I say that with love for her and knowing her as I do, if she were to read this she would laugh that ferocious  laugh of hers and say damn RIGHT!

Sue and I hit it off from the get go. During our friendship we have laughed together, fought together over politics but no matter what we always considered eachother friends. We have known one another and worked together for 11 years now. Both of us share the Cancer gene. Me Breast Cancer Sue Ovarian Cancer. When Sue was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer we had only known eachother for a year. The first bout was bad. We weren't sure if she was going to make it but she did. She has been a constant soldier in the fight. Her cancer has come back 4 times and each time she has been a fighter and conquered this horrible disease only to have it come back just as strong. This time it is different. The cancer has ravaged her body. It has taken hold of her and Sue is just plain tuckered out. I said to her once that I wanted us to be honest with one another about our cancer when it flared up and we have been.

During our friendship Sue has come over to my home many times. She was there for my house warming and for my first lighting of the fireplace. We sat in front of the roaring fire drinking hot tea and just talked for hours. We talked about our past and our future. There was never a lull in any of our conversations that we shared. I made her laugh and she made me think about things of importance. I remember when I started dating Kathy she said to me Jill she is a keeper and she was so right as she has been about so many things. Sometimes she would come over and just sit in my serenity garden for hours when I wasn't home. 

The Blue Ridge Family, where both Sue and I work collected money for flowers. Kathy picked them out. The arrangement is called The Butterfly Basket. Sue has always loved Butterflies. It was so appropriate. Kathy and I took them over to her. As we entered Sues room she was alone and sleeping. The room was dark with the curtains drawn slightly there was a stream of light coming from the window and such a peaceful feeling within the walls. The only sound was of Sue breathing as she was sleeping. Her feet uncovered and crossed with her signature teal colored toe nail polish would twitch as she breathed heavy at times. The IV morphine dripping that allowed Sue some relief from the pain. She would be snoozing then all of a sudden she would jerk. Her breathing was labored but yet gentle.

She has always been a go getter but now it looks as though the cancer has got her. I wish peace for my friend Sue. She has fought the good fight that is for sure. My hope for her is that she leaves this world as she lived it with honor.  As Kathy and I left Sues room I touched my fingers to my lips and then toward Sue. It was my way of kissing her GoodBye and wishing my friend a peaceful journey to the next stage. Goodbye and much love and peace my friend Sue.

These are my thoughts and feelings from Jillsville.