When I was a little girl, I had two beautiful older girl cousins. I looked up to Sue and Barbara Dennis.
They treated me with love and accepted me when I was annoying.
They married cousins and thus their last names both changed to Carothers.
Some years back Sue passed. She was a sweet soul that showed unconditional love to all of us.
Barbara was the younger sister. I remember thinking both sisters were beautiful. I wanted to be like them.
Barb and I didn’t talk every day, but we continued to reach out to one another as life happened.
Even as we became women, Barb still treated me like the little girl she once watched over.
Earlier this month Barb unexpectedly left us. No one was expecting she would go that day.
Her biggest joys were her children and grandchildren. She lived a lifetime in Northern California but had her eye on Colorado and close to family. It was a plan happily anticipated but not meant to be.
A few years ago, she lost her lifetime love and husband Allan Carothers. Her heart was broken, yet she continued as the strong woman she had always been.
She was 86 and was still as beautiful as ever. I always thank God we come from the same gene pool. One can hope.
Last night a few friends of Darrel Feldman gathered to remember our friend who passed. I’m not a schoolmate of Darrel. He was a schoolmate of my late husband David. I appreciate that these folks have always included me.
We have all come to an age when one by one we lose our loved ones and our friends.
Take time to appreciate those important people around you.
Life is good today, but life marches on. Don’t waste it.