My friend just died

[harsh_but_unfair]

and I am sad.

She was in her eighties, and she was my surrogate grandmother and good friend for many years. When she was diagnosed with cancer last year the doctors told her she had one or two years left, but she had no intentions of letting that hold her back.

I am a thousand miles away, it's been over a year since I last saw her, and I'm due to make the trip in just a couple of weeks.

Guess I'll be cracking open that bottle of Grouse tonight. It seems like sacrilege to toast her memory with anything less than a single malt, but it will have to do for now.

[MarkF]

My condolences...

I bumped into a neighbour the other day, or rather, I was walking along and saw him ahead, wearing a black tie and I instantly knew it was his Dad, who I knew to say hey to. He was a lovely old fella, and he passed a couple of days ago. Very sad, but he, too was in his 80's so, pretty good innings and all that

Remember your friend and granny well ...

[Peeking Duck]

I'm so sorry.

[Clockwork Jackal]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

[eleanorigby]

I'm sorry to hear this. It's hard to be so far away; grief is meant to be shared.

[Queen Tonya]

It sounds like you had a wonderful friendship, I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

[Jaglavak]

{{Harshie}}

[brownie55]

You have my sympathy. I'll be starting my own thread in just a minute.

[Old Overholt]

I'm very sorry for your loss even if you are harsh but unfair.

May the spectre of grief fade for you soon, leaving behind only the happiest of memories.

Old Overholt

[jali]

I'm so sorry.

I am glad that she didn't let the diagnosis hold her back. This made me smile.

[Khampelf]

{{{{{HBU}}}}}

[harsh_but_unfair]

Thank you all. She was a remarkable lady, smart and funny, younger than her years, well travelled and always up for more adventures.

I used to take her horse riding. Arthritic joints and osteoporosis be damned, we would hoist her up on a horse and trot along the beach. Up until a couple of months ago she was still feeling well enough that she was planning to come visit, and she was adamant that we would go dog sledding on a glacier. I wish she had been able to, but maybe the important thing is that she was still looking ahead and making plans for the future, never letting her illness depress her. I hope I'll grow old like that.

[Rebo]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Carolia]

Oh, harsh, I'm so sorry. It sounds like she was an inspiring lady, and by inspiring I mean pretty darned awesome.

[MissJeanLouise]

She sounds like a person to honor and emulate.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

[Guinastasia]

Fuck, I am so sorry.

[severe delays]

I'm so sorry for your loss. She seems like a wonderful person. And you're right, it's the looking forward and making plans that's the best part of living. Sounds like she did it right to the end.

[Taur]

Harshie, since I haven't had kids, I can only hope that I make it that far and have someone like you who'd feel my loss and want to raise a glass to me. For your heavy heart, you have my sympathy.