My Dearest Friend, Paula, would roll her eyes and shake her finger at me for loading her photo and my expression of Love for her here. But some people are so special, you simply cannot let their passing go unsung.

Like our dad, my friend was a stoic, quiet soul who simply saw the need in others and tried her best to meet it. It was probably the biggest point of "alikeness" we had. It was what we both had simply always done.

And while expanses of time could come and go between us (as far as notes and "Simon The Cat" exchanges), they were always short periods, and we ALWAYS ended our moments with, "I LOVE YOU!"... "I LOVE YOU MORE!!!" affirmations. I had the joy of her friendship for almost 38 years; and I am struggling yet with her passing.

She knew something was wrong. Perhaps it was her Cherokee heritage. Regardless, I knew her too long not to know that she well knew -and knew something was wrong for quite some time. In the end, her choice was to go be with her husband and her youngest son. But we found out so late of her illness that, from the time we all knew she was so ill ‑ to her passing, it was just one week that we were allowed to know that she would be leaving. One week!


We are living in times of seemingly endless turmoil, racial devisiveness, and hate speech so vile it feels like it will curl the ears. Yet, Paula and I always ended our talks with, "I LOVE YOU!"... "I LOVE YOU MORE!!!" moments!

Whatever you are doing today, even if those you Love are in perfect health, S T O P what you are doing, and tell them that you Love them! Life is so fleeting here. We really are like the morning mist that suddenly vanishes.

And, in knowing that, and of how fleeting our lives are here, I say to my Beloved Friend, "See you soon, Sweetie! Don't start anything without me! I Love you! And... I Thank you for Loving me more!"

For those of you with Loved ones you can still reach out to, I say to you again, tell them today that you Love them!

You may not have tomorrow...