It’s been about 2 months since my girl died. Stacie.

She was one of my best friends. I miss her every day and need to write this to honor our friendship. Do you have “that friend”? That friend that you talk to all the time, can be your true self with, talk freely with, and share your heart with? Yup, that was her. 

We first met at a work conference back in 2012. We were both sales reps with Scholastic Book Fairs. She lived in Portage, Michigan with her husband, 4 beautiful kids, 2 dogs, 2 sisters and their families, and her Mom. Since we met she lost her in-laws and her Dad, who I know is with her now, along with her sister who she lost long ago. 

I remember saying to her, “You look too young to have 4 kids!” We clicked immediately. We hung out with a couple of other girls that night and had a drink. She was the only other person I knew who enjoyed that popular 1970s drink, an Amaretto Sour, and we cracked up about it. That was the beginning….

Since then, our friendship just fell into place. Weekly phone calls discussing work issues became daily phone calls chit-chatting about our kids and families. Our jobs required day travel, so more often than not, we called each other on our phones sitting in our designated driveways, and talked until we got to our destinations. Sometimes we were late for our appointments because we were so deep in conversation we would miss our exits even when our GPSs would be squawking in the background that we were off course..lol

We lived in different states and only saw each other a couple of times per year, but that made no difference to the bond we developed.

We were thick as thieves yet contrasting views. We had different politics and work mentalities. She loved Notre Dame and I’m an Ohio State fan. I am a big book reader, she was not. We didn’t like the same type of music. She had dogs. I have a cat. As they say, opposites attract. 

She was with me through my darkest days. Through the turmoil of my youngest son’s mental health issues, she stood by me even though we were 320 miles apart. When my Dad died, she was one of the first people I called. She “saw” my kids graduate high school and kept me grounded when they moved away. She was always there. And now she’s not.

What I can say is that she was one of the bravest souls I’ve ever met and strong as an ox! I’ll never forget the day she called me and told me she found a lump in her breast. She was scared to call the doctor. Through so many chemo treatments, surgeries, and complications she endured she always was upbeat and wanted to know what was going on in my world. Yup. That was her. 

I miss her so much. Losing a close friend feels different than losing your parents. It’s a different kind of void. But what I do know and believe is that she’s pain-free and living her best, crazy, and fun life with her real long locks of beautiful hair drinking Rumchatta, eating spicy chicken sandwiches, and hanging out with her Dad and sister. RIP my sweet, and dear forever friend. I’ll see ya again someday…and you better have an Amaretto Sour waiting for me.

October is breast cancer awareness month. Go get a mammogram. 

#$%* Cancer