It's Hard To Say Goodbye.

My heart is hurting today. My best friend, Lynette's, Mum passed away this afternoon after a short but ugly fight against cancer. Lynette and I have been bestest buddies for 30 years this year and for that time, "Mrs P" has been a background part of my life too. Growing up, I spent a lot of time at Lynette's house during school holidays and weekends, because she lived on a farm and for a townie, there were sooooo many wonderful adventures to be had on a farm! The only drawback was the outside thunderbox! (Outdoor toilet consisting of a hollow wooden platform at seat-height and a drum below to catch ... well ... you get the picture! A bush loo!) Lynette's Dad taught me to drive and her Mum rescued me and patched me up along with Lynette after one of our 'adventures' or a tussle with one of her older brothers.

"Mrs P" (I quickly decided "Mrs Patterson" was too much of a mouthful to yell quickly if I needed rescuing from one of the brothers!!) is a wonderful and important part of my childhood memories and I am so pleased I was able to spend a day with her and Lynette in July when Lynette and I had our sewing day together. She had lost her hair thanks to the chemotherapy she had been receiving, but was in good spirits and absolutely fascinated by the applique process that Lynette and I were playing with. That day is now even more special to me, as it will be my last memory of her. I guess it just shows you that its not the big events that always matter most in life, its those little 'ordinary' moments of sharing time with friends and loved ones that are precious gems.

So ... today my heart hurts, for myself as I say goodbye to a person who played an important part in my growing up, but also as I ache for my wonderful best friend who has now lost both of her parents. I know the reality of life is, that as we get older, people who are important to us and who we love, will leave us, but for right now ... it just hurts.

Goodbye, "Mrs P".

KRIS