[dogbert]

I can relate to some of these stories in one way or another it's interesting to hear so many things so familiar.

I lost two friends to cancer within 6 months in 2005. They youngest in her mid 20's had breast cancer and lived about a mile from me the last few months of her life. She used to call me to do things with her or just to talk. When she passed away her father asked me to speak at her funeral, he wanted me to talk about how I KNEW she was sick for a long time. I guess she had relatives that didn't believe how sick she was and for how long. I said I would because I never knew her when she was well, the first time we met she was in the hospital. I kept trying to think of what I would say and how I would say it. I usually don't struggle to much with things like that. I just say what I know and say it from my heart. I was cooking one night still struggling with what to say. Finally I said Jessica what do you want me to say? And I heard the words plain as day "tell them I love them". So I did, it made sense when I thought of it. She was unconcious when her husband got home and never woke up before passing away. We were at her bedside, we wiped tears from her face so we believe she knew we were there, but she was never able to open her eyes or speak. She never had a chance to say that herself or tell them good bye. I was honored to do it for her.