It is now about two years now since Diane lost her battle with small cell cancer. She was only 57 or 58 years old at the time and she just gave up the battle after eight years of fighting the disease. The photos above are from a happier time in our lives.
Diane was the leading authority on any and every thing and that would drive the rest of us friends nuts. Yet, if any of us needed help she would be there.
Her BFF was Bill (top row 3rd pic on the left). They both died from cancer two weeks to the day. They were inseparable during life and I believe inseparable in their transition. I am sure they are sitting right now at some bar in heaven and having cocktails and discussing the rest of us! LOL
However, yesterday I heard the saddest story about her last eight years of life on this planet. Not only was she battling the sickening effects of small cell cancer for eight years...she was also living in a personal hell. Upon her death it was discovered that her home was filled with trash...shoulder high from basement to top floor. It took professionals to the make the town home safe because it was in such bad shape.
Mind you...this was an impeccable woman...during her life her home was always spotless and she always dressed to the nines, makeup was perfect, and nail polish glowing. During her eight year battle with cancer, as one dear friend put it so well, at what point did she decide to tie up the trash and just throw it somewhere in the house rather than take it to the dumpster.
It was like she had become two personalities...a brave face to the rest of us and yet experiencing her own personal hell at home for eight years! She never told anyone the grief she was experiencing and always deflected any inquiries on her well being.
There are many trails and threads to how she might have arrived at that point...but this is not the time to discuss them. And only she can or could have told us what were the thoughts and emotions that she experienced during the last eight years of her life.
Hindsight is always 20/20...such as should we have listened more...or should we have gotten past our personal reactions to her "know it all" personality? There are no answers.
And that is why we are all so flummoxed.
Is there a lesson here? I am not sure for I believe it is not the intention of the Universe/God to punish one person so another person might learn a lesson. Rather it is events in our lives from which we do learn. We grieve, we accept, we learn...is it not all about faith?
I miss you Diane and God bless your sweet "know it all" soul.
E'nuff!
Diane was the leading authority on any and every thing and that would drive the rest of us friends nuts. Yet, if any of us needed help she would be there.
Her BFF was Bill (top row 3rd pic on the left). They both died from cancer two weeks to the day. They were inseparable during life and I believe inseparable in their transition. I am sure they are sitting right now at some bar in heaven and having cocktails and discussing the rest of us! LOL
However, yesterday I heard the saddest story about her last eight years of life on this planet. Not only was she battling the sickening effects of small cell cancer for eight years...she was also living in a personal hell. Upon her death it was discovered that her home was filled with trash...shoulder high from basement to top floor. It took professionals to the make the town home safe because it was in such bad shape.
Mind you...this was an impeccable woman...during her life her home was always spotless and she always dressed to the nines, makeup was perfect, and nail polish glowing. During her eight year battle with cancer, as one dear friend put it so well, at what point did she decide to tie up the trash and just throw it somewhere in the house rather than take it to the dumpster.
It was like she had become two personalities...a brave face to the rest of us and yet experiencing her own personal hell at home for eight years! She never told anyone the grief she was experiencing and always deflected any inquiries on her well being.
There are many trails and threads to how she might have arrived at that point...but this is not the time to discuss them. And only she can or could have told us what were the thoughts and emotions that she experienced during the last eight years of her life.
Hindsight is always 20/20...such as should we have listened more...or should we have gotten past our personal reactions to her "know it all" personality? There are no answers.
And that is why we are all so flummoxed.
Is there a lesson here? I am not sure for I believe it is not the intention of the Universe/God to punish one person so another person might learn a lesson. Rather it is events in our lives from which we do learn. We grieve, we accept, we learn...is it not all about faith?
I miss you Diane and God bless your sweet "know it all" soul.
E'nuff!
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