This morning, I finished my six-month chemotherapy regimen.  HOORAY!!  I am looking forward to celebrating in the coming weeks and months, especially as I rebuild my strength.  We actually started early when we went to a Maroon 5 concert a couple of weeks ago.  We had an awesome time, especially after the sun set and the opening act cleared the stage.  🙂

Unfortunately, I received some bad news about a good friend while getting my infusion yesterday.  Carol has been a bright light in my life for twenty years.  We met in the attic of an old-house-turned-law-firm in 1998.  I worked at the firm as a paralegal for a year between finishing undergrad and starting law school.  We shared the attic with another paralegal and two attorneys.

We quickly turned from coworkers to friends.  In the twenty years since, Carol became one of my dearest friends.  We got together fairly regularly until I moved out of state.  Since then, I have only seen her a couple of times, but we emailed most days, if not every day.  I am at a loss for words to describe her and what she has meant to me.  She was smart, kind, caring, witty, courageous, adventurous, committed, inspiring, strong, non-judgmental.  She loved God, Coca Cola, Snoopy, Nascar, and Lenny on Law & Order.  And animals.  She loved animals.  She also loved people, especially her kids and grandkids.  She bragged about them constantly (as she should have).  She was always such a supportive friend.  I have lost count of the number of days that Carol’s encouragement inspired me to keep going.  I only started this blog after her strong encouragement.  She saw me through some of the worst moments of my life (such as two rounds of cancer), as well as the best (including graduating from law school).  Her support was not reserved for family and friends, though.  She started “Preacher To Go,” providing ministerial and chaplain services, performing weddings, etc., to anyone who needed the service.  While it was a “business,” she often charged little or nothing and performed the services for those who others turned away.  She jumped on the “kindness rock” wave and took great pleasure in painting the rocks, placing them, and watching for postings by the people who found them – just to see the smiles on their faces.

A few weeks ago, Carol had emergency surgery after they discovered cancer.  She had started chemotherapy and was recovering from the surgery.  When she was finally strong enough to start emailing again, she told me about the great time she was spending with her kids and how loved and supported she felt.  Although she was stunned by her diagnosis, she was starting to get back to her usual self.  Then, unexpectedly, she passed away yesterday morning.  I do not know whether it was the cancer or something else.  I do know that this news made the chemotherapy running through my IV a small, insignificant thing.  I would go through six more months if that meant I could have my friend back.

While I will feel Carol’s loss for a long time, I cannot let her passing end the light that she cast to all around her.  A light like hers must keep shining, and so I share a bit of her life in order to pass it along.  I know she wanted to live longer and do more.  She will do that in all of us who loved her, as we take her with us wherever we go.  Even those who did not know her can share her light by being kind, caring, adventurous, and open minded, like she was.

I am blessed to have so many awesome people who, like Carol, provide constant support and inspiration.  Thank you all for helping me to get through the last six months.  I love you and look forward to continuing to share life with you.  You can all help me make some great memories (which can turn into future blog posts 🙂 ).