Time Marches On

My ex-husband's sister, S. passed away last night from a long hard struggle with cancer. I know she fought hard, and had so much to live for, but that damned disease has won, again. We'll miss her. She was a special lady, talented, hard working, loving and such a great sense of humour. Thinking back, I have many memories and images of her in my mind to sift through...

- her many handicrafts, be it sewing, knitting, cross stitch, her work was beautiful and she seemed to enjoy it all (and I often borrowed her sewing machine before I received my last one for my birthday)
- that natural blonde streak in her hair that I often wished I had!
- the many mouthwatering recipes she so willingly shared, and the many calls I made to her over the years after I moved away, such as her molasses cookies, her trifles, and potato salad (yes, this is who I model my own salad after, for my friends that have enjoyed it over the years); and the beautiful cakes she decorated year after year for so many occasions
- S. taking my newborn daughter from my arms as I stepped off the Marine Runner, where she went directly to my house to strip her down for a better look. It was the funniest thing, but oh so cute to see. Hard to believe but that was just a few days shy of 20 years ago...
- the many card games at the cabin...I remember one such game where she and I were playing against our husbands and we took over 800 points in one hand...the men were savage about it, but we gloated freely
- she always seemed to have a smile for you, particularly all those years she and her husband ran their general store, and what a beautiful smile it was

There are more, but they're hard to write about right now, and I may just be selfish and keep them to myself. I can't make it to the funeral, some 7800kms away, but I will be there in spirit and Amber and I will do our best to remember S. as she was, keeping her close to our hearts.

I would like to encourage anyone and everyone who reads to please help raise breast cancer awareness and if you are able, donate to breast cancer research to put a stop to the continuing loss of so many of our country's great women. Click here or on the post title for more information on how you can help.

Amber and I have been putting together a small flower garden next to the steps these past couple of days just after we heard the news, I will think of S. as she loved to garden and mow her grass.