Celebrating My Friend…

Today is a special day.

My friend went to Heaven today.

Last night, favorite husband and I were talking about our friend.  We talked about our most recent memory – riding Engineer and Cinnamon Pass together in Lake City – being elbow deep in bbq ribs and laughing….so much laughter!  I was taken back to our numerous shopping excursions where our friend would absolutely shop the best of us under the table!  Man that woman could shop!

Is there shopping in Heaven?!  I hope so!

She was never lacking for an opinion nor was she ever quiet in expressing it!  “Janine, you’ve got to start singing again!  It’s one of the best things you used to do and you don’t do it anymore!  Why not?!” She said.  I mumbled some excuse that I’ve lost my range and it probably wouldn’t sound good now anyway.  But she wouldn’t hear of it.  “It’s one of your best giftings, Janine.  It hasn’t gone anywhere.”

That was my friend.

She had good days and some that weren’t so good.  There were times when I wanted to shield her from the consequences of decisions that were made and not well thought out.  But to love her, meant loving her in those moments too.

That was my friend.

Miss Sarah had just purchased a little two seat-er BMW in black…it was gorgeous!  “Get in, Janine – let’s take it for a spin!”  Of course, my friend drove.  I thought we might be going a bit fast, but when I glanced at the speedometer – it was rounding 100.   “100!” I yelled!  My friend looked at me and just laughed.

Yup.  That was my friend!

It’s always a good day when you celebrate someone you love – someone that you’ve loved through the easy times and the “Really?!  She did WHAT?!” times.  (Even that last sentence made me smile.)

Today, I celebrate my friend!