IT’S BEEN AWHILE

Good Morning Everyone.

It's is a cold, rainy, Tuesday in Gadsden, Alabama and so much has happened since I was here last.  On Thanksgiving Day my mother, sister, Chase and I went to Angie’s.
I woke up that day with a sore throat not feeling well. On the way I started feeling worse and slept almost all the way, when I got there I went to bed and slept until lunch was ready..Angie and Cathy had fixed a huge meal and it was so delicious.
I ate and felt better so Chase and I stayed as planned.On Friday Angie and I watched the big Alabama-Auburn game and Dave and Chase put up Christmas decorations outside.
The game started out with a bang, we were winning, and my best friend Betty, called, we always talked on the phone off and on during Auburn games, and said, Well Sis, how do you think we are going to do, we talked for a few minutes and hung up..to make a long story short, I progressively got worse and on Sat night I ended up in the ER at Huntsville hospital.
They admitted me with pneumonia in both lower lobes..I stayed overnight and was discharged, Chase and I went home..
When I got home from Angie’s, I found out my best friend Betty was in the hospital, she went on Saturday because she thought she had pneumonia only to find out she had Leukemia.. she was going to be Transferred to UAB Cancer Center in Birmingham ..I had called the hospital on Monday morning and talked to Jeff, Betty was talking in the background and she asked me if I wanted her to save me her room as we figured my Dr. would put me back in the hospital..she was laughing and sounded fine.. I went to the Dr. on Tuesday and still had pneumonia and was sent home to bed and rest..I came home and called my sister to tell her what the Dr. said and she told me that Betty had a very fast growing type of Leukemia and her Dr. said it was no use to send her to Birmingham, they would not take her at the hospital, by Wednesday they did not think she would make it thru the night and she wanted to go home..they got her home late that afternoon and by 11:30 that night my friend was gone.
My oldest daughter Lori and Jeff, Betty's son, were almost the same age and when they moved in across the street from us they became good friends, I finally met Betty and her husband Jerry and we became fast friends..Betty and Jeff and my girls and I had some escapades as they were growing up..and for almost 30 years we have remained very close.  We shared so many happy times and stood by each others side during so many bad times, I just can not imagine my life without my friend..she left behind her son Jeff and her aging Mother, whom she took care of..her husband died several years ago.
One thing I am so thankful for is that almost every time we talked we each said "I love you"..we called each other sis, Betty was an only child and she used to tell me I was the only sister she had. I have been sick so much off and on the past few years, Betty would beg me to take care of myself, she would say, "I just don't know what I would do without my sis"..
Betty was such a big hearted person, always thinking of others, and her actions always proved it..for example..several months ago my Microwave went out..a week or so later here came Betty and Jeff with a new microwave for me...She knew my sister was here staying with my mother without her computer..so she got one she did not use.. fixed it up and carried it to Cathy..
I am not sure of the name of the type Leukemia she had, I know it onsets around 66 years of age, (Betty was 65) and is very fast growing..the white blood cells grow so fast eating up the red cells that it causes fluid around your lungs and heart and stops your breathing..Betty had problems with disc in her neck and her back and was in a lot of pain, otherwise she was healthy..always worked hard to stay that way..Her death has been such a shock and getting thru her viewing and funeral was so hard to do..my heart breaks for her son and her mother.
Jeff called me about 3 am on Thursday morning and asked me if would write Betty's obituary..I was honored to do it as it gave me a way to say goodbye to my friend.
The night of her funeral Chase and I were watching TV and I picked up the phone to check my messages, I forget that I have voice mail and forget to check them..I had 9 messages and the last one played and I heard Betty's voice, "Sis, call me when you get home before you leave out..she had called me on Wednesday before I went to Angie’s..!!!
Friends, her sudden death brings home the fact again, that we NEVER know when the Good Lord is going to call us home...we need to ALWAYS be prepared...and above all, tell your loved ones you LOVE them..that might be the last thing you ever get to say to them. If you have had a falling out with a friend or family member, make amends and tell them you love them..don't put it off waiting for the other person to make the first move..else you may never get the chance..tell them you are sorry and that you love them,and how thankful you are for them.. if you never hear back, at least you know you tried...and they will know how you feel.

Friendship is a priceless gift
that cannot be bought or sold.
But its value is far greater,
than a mountain made of gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless
it can neither see nor hear,
and in the time of trouble
it is powerless to cheer,
it has no ears to listen nor heart to understand,
It cannot bring you comfort or reach out a helping hand.

So when you ask God for a gift
Be thankful if he sends not diamonds,
pearls or riches but the love of real TRUE FRIENDS.