In Loving Memory

[niyad]

A year ago, one of my dearest friends died, having lost her 11-year battle with cancer. Betty was beautiful, intelligent, wickedly funny,with a taste for truly bad puns, a lover of good chocolate and good wine, and possessed of more courage and grace than most people can even imagine. She delighted in pointing out to people that she was a LIBERAL evangelical christian, which just drove some people nuts. And, although I am not christian, the incredible support system she had at her church even extended to me during the difficult days. I honour the members of her church, who actually live what we understand to be the christian message of love and kindness and help and support

I sit here tonight, just having visited the top 10 list, and think about our sunday night ritual. Whichever one of us got to our computer and phone first would call the other, and we would go through the list together, howling with laughter, or shaking our heads in amazement. We spent hours on the phone discussing the latest foibles of chimp and chinstrap and asscrap and the whole troupe of horrors currently infesting our nation's capitol. Both of us were also, unfortunately, far too well acquainted with the mess that is the VA system, wives of Vietnam vets, fighting tenaciously to get them the treatment and help they deserved. Her husband lost his battle early last year, and we talked at length about what the families in the current horror show are going to be enduring, as the system faces more budget cuts, and an increased need for its services.

I miss her so much, and I still find myself reaching for the phone, wanting to share the latest bit of idiocy with her, not to mention the idiots' list. I know she can hear me, as I read the list, laughing or muttering in disgust.

So, to you my dear friend, sister of the heart and soul, I raise my glass of hot grand marnier, and the chocolate you love so much. Peace to you, and know that the intrepid and wonderful and amazing people of DU are still carrying on.

BB

[amitten]

1. May she rest in peace, and I'm sorry for your loss. n/t

[niyad]

4. thank you so much.

[benburch]

2. My most sincere condolences.

I know, or think I do, exactly how you feel.

:grouphug:

[niyad]

5. thank you so much. I know that you do.

[countmyvote4real]

3. Peace.

Thanks for sharing. Betty sounds like a wonderful person in all aspects. (She's probably laughing at this post now.)

[niyad]

6. thank you so much. she is indeed a wonderful person--and I would guess

that she probably is laughing. Like the rest of us, she considered DU part of her extended family.

[alittlelark]

7. I raise my glass of "Doghouse" merlot to your friendship!

You were a part of a rare and beautiful relationship.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. She lives on in your thoughts and words.

We should all be so lucky.

[Lifelong Protester]

9. May she rest in peace

and know, wherever she is, that she truly had a good friend in you!

[flyarm]

10. bless her and you..and may you find peace in your heart ..i think

i know someone special she may be sharing angel duties with...and if she is, she is in good hands...

i too am heavy hearted right now for the loss of a very dear friend...i think i know what you are feeling!..I know my heart aches..and the loss is awful...

bless you..and i hope she is soaring as a very special angel...

fly

[niyad]

14. she is indeed a very special angel. I am so sorry for your loss. may you

also find peace and comfort.

BB

[lyonn]

17. When you lose that special, special friend you find yourself

shocked and sicken by the fact that you can't pick up the phone, or pop over and discuss life, politics, kids, husbands, you know the drill, just things in life you want to bounce off this person you respect and has added to your life. Lost this kind of friend a few months ago and went through all of this. We have many friends through life but only precious few are the ones you trust to tell and be told goofy things that makes you feel better by discussing it where no one else would understand even if they don't agree. Guess having had a friend like that is worth the pain when they are gone.

[niyad]

19. yes, this is it exactly. I am so sorry for your loss, and hope that you

will find peace as well.

[lyonn]

26. You still miss them after time but then you reach

a point where you can enjoy remembering the good times, lots of laughs through the years, and just plain glad that I was able to have a friend like that. Always a bit of sadness creeps in when you forget briefly that they are gone and want to tell them something, etc.

[me b zola]

11. Thank you for sharing a bit of Betty with us

She was blessed to have a friend like you. Betty will live as long as you carry her in your heart. Peace & comfort to you as you continue your journey. :grouphug:

[niyad]

15. thank you so much. she is always a part of my heart, and I am truly

blessed that she is part of my life.

[niyad]

12. thank all of your for your kind words and thoughts. I am indeed lucky

to have such a wonderful friend, we saw each other through so much. I hope that each and every one of you has such a person in your life as well.

[Sal Minella]

13. You are lucky you had each other, and we are lucky we have you.

[niyad]

18. thank you--I am lucky to have all of you here--the amazing and wonderful

people of DU have, more than any of you could imagine, gotten me through a lot of days and nights. Blessings to all of you.

[lonestarnot]

16. It's tough to loose a gem that can't be replaced. Hang in there.

:hug:

[niyad]

21. thank you, I am hanging in there, and doing my best to continue the

work all of us here are doing, as she was.

[lonestarnot]

22. Yes. I'm sure that is the best and brightest way to honor a star.

[dweller]

20. for Betty

for you.

FULL CONSCIOUSNESS

You are carrying me, full consciousness, god that has desires,
all through the world.
Here, in this third sea,
I almost hear your voice: your voice, the wind,
filling entirely all movements;
eternal colors and eternal lights;
sea colors and sea lights.

Your voice of white fire
in the universe of water, the ship, the sky,
marking out the roads with delight,
engraving for me with blazing light my firm orbit:
a black body
with the glowing diamond in its center.

Juan Ramon Jimenez

peace
dp

[niyad]

23. that is so beautiful. thank you so very, very much!!

[SeattleGirl]

24. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beautiful friend.

Thank you for sharing a bit of her with us.

[niyad]

25. and thank you. she is indeed a beautiful friend.

[ninkasi]

27. I am so sorry for your loss

You were indeed fortunate to have a friend like her, and she was blessed to have a friend like you. The world can not stand to lose very many like her, because they are the ones who give the rest of us hope and encouragement. I'm sending loving thoughts your way.

[niyad]

32. thank you for the loving thoughts. she indeed gives hope and

encouragement, and inspiration as she so bravely battled the cancer.

[conflictgirl]

28. I'm so sorry for your loss.

True friends are especially hard to find. You were very lucky to have such a friend, but I imagine that makes the loss that much more acute.

:hug:

[niyad]

33. thank you, and you are so right--to lose a true friend like that is so

very painful. somebody once told me that if one could count five true friends, one was rich beyond measure. that is so very true.

[Raine]

29. Cheers to Betty

she'll live forever in your heart. O8)

[niyad]

34. thank you--she does indeed.

[roguevalley]

30. This is so sad. She sounded like a lot of fun. I read a book you

might want to read. Its called We Are Their Heaven by Allison Dubois. She is the person the show Medium is about and she helps law enforcement and bereaved people. They never leave us, their love is forever. She is beside you now, comforting you. Know that and have peace.

[niyad]

35. thank you--we always had so much fun together. I will have to check

out the book--I know our loved ones don't actually ever leave us, which is a comfort. Have only had an opportunity to see Medium once, but it was very good. didn't know if was based on a real person.

[laylah]

31. .

:hug: Sorry for your loss, Niyad. Losing such a close friend is devastating. May she be resting peacefully.

Jenn

[niyad]

36. thank you so much.

[niyad]

37. I want to thank each and every one of you who read, and responded,

to my memorial for Betty. You have no idea how treasured you all are, and how very much appreciated. I wish for all of you, peace and love, and, when things are bad, all the support and comfort you have given me. You are all truly amazing, wonderful, loving people.

Blessings to all.

[blm]

38. Your description of her reminds me of the way Jane Fonda refers to herself

And I find much to admire in that, even as someone who does not believe.

Sending good thoughts your way and....thankyou for sharing that part of yourself.

[niyad]

39. thank you for the good thoughts-- I wish all of you could have known

her, a truly remarkable woman. now that you mention it, I recall jane saying something like that in an interview after her book came out. I understood a little better about her conversion then.

[Beaverhausen]

40. I lost a dear friend a year ago today

Your tribute to Betty is beautiful. :hug:

My friend Jane was an amazing and inspiring woman who had a great influence on my life.

I will toast her and your friend Betty, tonight. They sound like they would be kindred spirits...maybe they have found each other in the next plane.

[niyad]

41. I am so sorry for your loss, and hope that you are able to find some

peace and comfort. Perhaps they have indeed found each other beyond the veil, what a wonderful thing.

I will toast your friend Jane tonight as well, then.

blessings

[grannylib]

42. Raising a glass of organic apple juice to your beloved friend...

and to all liberal evengelical Christians, and other liberals, everywhere!

peace to you and to all her family and friends.

[niyad]

43. Hear!! Hear!!! you are right, a toast to all of them, everywhere. and

thank you for your thoughts.

[denese]

44. may you find comfort

My soul sister is sleeping under my roof tonight.
I'm going to hug her goodnight tonight.
I'll be hugging her extra tight after reading this.
And I will be holding you in my heart as I do.

[niyad]

47. yes, hug her tight, and hold her close. don't lose one precious moment

and thank you so very much.

[lonestarnot]

45. Are you hanging in there niyad?

[niyad]

48. thank you for asking, and yes, I am. I hope you all know

just how wonderful you are, and how much your thoughts and caring helped this day. I could feel her presence beside me as I was working on some DOP campaign things and an interfaith dialogue that she would be very proud of.

Thank you again for everything.

[lonestarnot]

50. I feel your pain.

No need to thank anyone here.

[hopeisaplace]

46. beautifully written, my eyes filled with tears for both of you

...good friends are such a treasure. Such a sad and lovely tribute.

[niyad]

49. thank you so much. she is indeed a treasure, and I am most fortunate

to have such a friend. I remember seeing a thread title earlier today, "are you rich?" and my answer would be YES, of course, rich in friendship, rich in all the things that matter.