Goodbye Lynda ...

I've been largely absent in mind and spirit this week.

Last Friday, December 10, 2010, a dear friend and co-worker died of a massive brain hemorrhage.  She wasn't the epitome of health, in fact had many issues, and was in fact here in the hospital when she died.  They were preparing to discharge her when she collapsed.

An unlikely friendship, she and I.  She was in her 60s, I'm in my forties.  She was a Director, I am a peon.  She was a total cat person, I'm a dog person.  She was driven, hyper, a work-a-holic, I am pretty laid back and you pretty much get 40 hour a week out of me .. period.  She was Catholic, I am a non-denominational Christian.

Our friendship started more than 11 years ago and over the years we have worked together, we have shared work and personal lives, we vented about our work aggravations, we leaned on each other, supported and ragged on each other.  It was just "us"..  we could be ourselves with each other.

No matter how sick she was, or how much she hurt or didn't feel like it, there was always a smile on her face and she was always at work -- unless she was in the hospital, or they forbid her to come in.

I knew she was declining.  I knew she was sick more than she was well.  But I was caught so off guard.

I visited her on Wednesday in the hospital.. we joked and laughed about her obsessing over her husband while SHE was in the hospital ...  I didn't make it there on Thursday.  Friday morning when I arrived in my office, I had another co-worker there to tell me that "they coded Lynda this morning"..

Everything happened fast after that .. but we all knew she was gone.  Her son arrived that afternoon from Denver, they took her off the vent .. she was really gone by 7pm.

I will miss her everyday..  she was a HUGE part of my life at work.  I find peace in knowing that she knows and loves the Lord ..  but I'm selfish, and want her back.

Goodbye Lynda ..  I hope you know how much you are missed.