So long dear friend.....

I met her playing a word game. She said something in the chat section about hurting her knee and I offered her some advice along with worry that she hadn't seen a doctor. That started a nearly 7 year friendship....an internet friendship. I never met her personally but I have pictures and Christmas cards and if she didn't hear from me for a couple days, she would call me. We lived in the same state but over 300 miles apart. I kept planning on making the trip to see her.

We chatted online Wednesday for a long time...Thursday she wasn't online so I sent her an email. I came home from work on Friday to a message waiting for me on my answering machine. When I listened to the message I was in shock. It was her son....whom I had never talked to before. He was telling me that she had died in her sleep sometime during Thursday night into Friday morning. The whole family is numb....she leaves behind a husband, 3 children and 5 grandchildren.....and two very devoted dogs. She had not been ill, but had complained to me about not feeling too well the last few days. She had high blood pressure and had run out of her medication months ago. She put off getting to the doctor for a refill.

We chatted online nearly every single day for almost 7 years. She was a very dear and close friend. We confided in each other....we trusted one another and I will miss her more than I can ever say. Don't let anyone ever tell you that a friend you haven't met in person can't be a close one. And that's all I'm going to say about that.