Phyllis & I had been friends since Elementary School & Sunday School. Our parents were the best of friends & so we grew up together. We spent time at each others homes & enjoyed the odd sleep over. Going through High School together, we experienced some of the joys of being a teenager. Even though we tended to be a bit shy, we both chose nursing as our career. We drifted apart as we joined hospitals that were apart from each other. Even though we didn't see each other while we were raising our families, we kept in touch through our annual Christmas letters & through news from our respective parents.
It wasn't until my Dad was very sick in 2010, that we reconnected. She was such a solace to me, using her palliative care nursing skills to help me. When Gary got sick so quickly in 2012, we e-mailed almost every day. The death of such a special person in each of our lives bonded us together & we were able to lean on each other.
I continued to see her once or twice per year on my trips home form the East Coast. We were never at a loss for words. Our last gettogether was this past January, with no signs of illness on the forefront. We continued to keep in touch via e-mail while I was away on vacation with my husband.
One should never take a friend for granted. They are too hard to come by. Hugs to you Phyl, 'until we meet again'. Sandy.
