In Loving Memory

[niyad]

A year ago, one of my dearest friends died, having lost her 11-year battle with cancer. Betty was beautiful, intelligent, wickedly funny,with a taste for truly bad puns, a lover of good chocolate and good wine, and possessed of more courage and grace than most people can even imagine. She delighted in pointing out to people that she was a LIBERAL evangelical christian, which just drove some people nuts. And, although I am not christian, the incredible support system she had at her church even extended to me during the difficult days. I honour the members of her church, who actually live what we understand to be the christian message of love and kindness and help and support

I sit here tonight, just having visited the top 10 list, and think about our sunday night ritual. Whichever one of us got to our computer and phone first would call the other, and we would go through the list together, howling with laughter, or shaking our heads in amazement. We spent hours on the phone discussing the latest foibles of chimp and chinstrap and asscrap and the whole troupe of horrors currently infesting our nation's capitol. Both of us were also, unfortunately, far too well acquainted with the mess that is the VA system, wives of Vietnam vets, fighting tenaciously to get them the treatment and help they deserved. Her husband lost his battle early last year, and we talked at length about what the families in the current horror show are going to be enduring, as the system faces more budget cuts, and an increased need for its services.

I miss her so much, and I still find myself reaching for the phone, wanting to share the latest bit of idiocy with her, not to mention the idiots' list. I know she can hear me, as I read the list, laughing or muttering in disgust.

So, to you my dear friend, sister of the heart and soul, I raise my glass of hot grand marnier, and the chocolate you love so much. Peace to you, and know that the intrepid and wonderful and amazing people of DU are still carrying on.

BB