My sweet friend, we were sisters, not by blood, but at heart. Your untimely passing is a complete devastation to so many of us. You were BY FAR the kindest, most generous, gentle & funny person I've ever know. How blessed I was to share a long & soulful friendship with you. 1982 began the best years of my life--my life with you in it. You've left me a better person than I could have been otherwise. Your family is my family. And I hope they know I will always be with them to honor your memory and support them any way possible. I love you, sweet girl. I feel lost, but I will find my way--always remembering your comforting words and unconditional love. Thank you for loving me, thank you for being my friend and thank you for allowing me into your life and welcoming me into your family from the first day on. I particularly want your mother to know she can lean on me, should she ever feel the need. She's not going to be able to get rid of me. She was my mother when my mother couldn't be and I will always, ALWAYS love her. I will share stories with her and hopefully one day, we will be able to laugh together again. For now, we may exchange tears, but only because we'll miss you so much. But I couldn't be more grateful to have had ANY time with you at all. I will miss our 3 hour PLUS long conversations, our laughter together, strolls down memory lane and plans for retirement together. I will see you again one day. Until then my friend, send us love and hope. We need your strength right now to make it through. The pain will never cease, the healing never be complete, but someday we will learn to smile again. And I know you will be there in spirit to crack a joke (or snort) with us! Laughter. It was your best gift to us. Thank you for being you. Thank you for everything. Your suffering has ended and ours has begun, but we will be with you again someday. Until then, go with God, my friend, my other half, my best confidant. I love you.