♥ Mrs. Gaines ♥

Todays weather matches my mood. It's been raining on and off since I woke up. I learned yestrday of the death of a dear friend. She's been like a Mother to me for a long time. When my Mom was sick, this dear neighbor drove my Mom to cancer treatments hours away 3 times a week. She would check in on my Mom when my family was at work and school. She was my Moms friend and became like a second Mom to me. She taught me to sew and helped me make my Homecoming dress.
She gave me time.
She was fiesty and I loved that about her. She always looked after me, often to my fathers frustration. It was she that called my Grandmother to tell her I had moved out to my own apartment at 17. She didn't like my fathers new wife and knew my reasons for moving out.
She had my back and I never forgot it.
For the last several years she fought the likes of leukemia. On Monday it beat her. After a month long stay in the hospital, she was released and died peacfully in her own home.
My life was graced by her wit and wisdom and there will never be another Mrs.Gaines.
I'm flying to Florida for her service. My brother and his wife, my super sister-in-law Michele, are picking me up and we'll drive across the state to Fort Pierce. After the service, we'll drive back to St. Petersburg. I'll spend the night with them as they're in the process of moving this weekend and I'll fly home. I need this closure and her family needs our strength.
They were always there for us.
I can give her time.
♥♥
Patricia