Reality SUCKS!!!!

K holding Z, at his baby shower.


My 2nd best friend, in this 1-horse town, died at 10:30 last night.
We ALL know where she is now, no question!
I'd say "Rest In Peace", but I KNOW that K isn't resting. She's far too active to be resting on her first day in heaven! Knowing K, she's probably trying to find a way to comfort all of us who are left on earth without her.
I'm happy that she's reunited with her parents and sister. I'm grateful that she didn't have to die of Alzheimers, as she feared. I'm grateful that her pain didn't last too long, and that she didn't linger for weeks in a coma.

After posting last night, we received an update on K's condition: she only had a 30% chance of making it through the night. When the phone rang, early this morning, it took both of my shaking hands to pick up the receiver....I knew what the caller would say....K's gone.

Boss and I held it together pretty well with each other until Boss said: "We have to bake the beans for K's funeral." I said: "Oh my God, this isn't a joke anymore! We promised to serve baked bean sandwiches at her funeral." Reality SUCKS!!

Ever since we started catering funerals, K said that she wanted a simple funeral. She loves smearing cold, leftover baked beans on toast. One day, while we were cooking for a funeral, K said that she wanted us to serve baked bean sandwiches at her funeral. She must have repeated this request 1000 times, over the last few years. It was an inside joke with the 3 of us....now it's REALITY! K knows that I think eating after a funeral is barbaric. I can't do it! She told me, with that damned twinkle in her eyes, that: "You WILL eat a baked bean sandwich at my funeral, cuz I SAID SO!" Alright K. I'll choke down a sandwich. But only because I KNOW you'll be watching. If I don't, I know that you'll find a way to mischievously get back at me. You do, after all, know where I live and work! I'll eat that sandwich, fighting back my tears, swallowing down the lump in my throat, because I LOVE YOU K!

I can't bring myself to use the past tense when referring to K; I just talked to her Thursday! Boss and I have talked, and laughed, with K at least 5 days a week for the past 20 years! The next few weeks at work will be extremely difficult to bear. We will constantly be waiting for K to walk through the door... or we'll want to remember to tell her something...or the returning snowbirds will ask about her...or a customer will want to know why she isn't baking doughnuts anymore....or we'll find one of her possessions lying around......
K's beautiful spirit will always live in our hearts!

As much as all of us are mourning K's absence in our lives, her husband is suffering 100 fold. Their 50th anniversary was coming at the end of June. We, and their 4 kids, were planning a surprise party for them. B and K were made for each other. I'm certain that B feels as if half of him has died. Please pray for B, as he faces the rest of his life without his soulmate.

See You Tuesday

The 3 of us will be heading for southern MN, tomorrow morning. My aunt died yesterday. Auntie's funeral will be a celebration. She was 94, and had been totally unresponsive to anyone around her for the last 5 years. Death has released Auntie from her earthly bonds. We're all happy for her.

My parents won't be going to the funeral of my Dad's sister. Dad is now the only one left of his family's 6 kids. My parents seem to be removing themselves from this branch of the family too.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my cousins. Several of us are very much alike. Scary thought, isn't it? Auntie was childless, and her husband died over 20 yrs ago. It's up to 2 of my cousins and I to handle the arrangements. It's been a busy couple of days here between work, phone calls, packing, and catching up on the laundry and misc. chores before we leave.

I'll catch up with you all on Monday night or Tuesday. Maybe this weekend, if I can handle my cousin's dial-up connection. Have a great weekend!