Unexpected Sadness...and Then A Smile

 (Friends 7x5 Illustration Print by majalin)

        Sometimes when the phone rings these days I get a little jolt of uneasiness. That's because I've been getting so much bad news lately. Friends going through chemo for cancer...going through stressful family issues...deaths.

       So when the phone rang yesterday, needless to say, I wasn't expecting good news! O_O But I wasn't expecting the news I got either!! :-( A girlfriend of mine...or should I say 'woman' friend, because we were real WOMEN together!...unexpectedly died!! :-( ...

 (15x22 Wrapped Watercolor Painting by AmandaNutzman)

     I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say...I was expecting to hear that any one of the other three friends of mine that I've been nervously waiting by the phone for to have died. Not her! :-( Actually, I didn't even know she was having a surgery! O_O That's how she was. Not wanting to worry anybody. :-(

     So, today I'm kinda sad. Remembering my dear, dear friend. Remembering wonderfully deep conversations with her...Remembering how she LOVED my cheddar-wurst and home fries with onions...Remembering how I had to teach her the 'correct' pronunciation of the word 'focus'. Her Spanish accent when she said it made us cringe and giggle every time!...until she found out what it sounded like...O_O...and forced herself to slow down and say it in slow motion every time after that! :-))

      I'm remembering how we talked endlessly about how crazy the world seems to be getting, and the beautiful future we both spiritually looked forward to when the whole earth was new again...

 (LUQUILLO BEACH in PUERTO RICO 16x20 Fine Art Photo by ElizabethThomasPhoto)

      I'm remembering how much I'm gonna miss those conversations, until I see her again. :-( ...

 ("Live to Tell" 50x56 Framed Oil Painting by KatherineFraser)

      *sigh*...Even tennis, crocheting, and music are gonna need a nap in between for a few days, while I get my 'sea legs' back under me again...

 (4 Kitten Cat Greeting Notecards/ Envelopes Set by ASLICEINTIME)

       Thankfully, because of other dear friends, I still have the ability to smile...

(1,000,000 Artists on Facebook)

      When I saw this illustration (above) it really made me smile! :-] I think the reason was partially because I have a wall hanging, photo, that it reminded me of!...

 

     See what I mean?! :-)) This was given to us by another dear friend many years ago....So, I'm remembering a lot of friends today. Some with sadness. But always also with smiles...because there were, and are, always smiles! :-]
      I'll try to be less sad tomorrow. See you then...Have a good day, Everybody.

 Reasons To Smile

I don't really need a reason,
to let out a great big grin;
But I do from time to time,
just to exercise my chin.

Sometimes I do it just to see
what reaction I will get,
in the places where I've gone,
and the people that I've met.

Sometimes it's just for me!
To amuse some silly thought;
Or to show just how excited
I have been at what I bought.

Sometimes a smile can change my mood,
when weather forecasts make me blue;
Or when I see a baby playing!
Oh yes! Oh Yes! I smile then too!

Truth is, I really don't need a reason.
Frowns just,frankly, aren't my style.
I could sit and write about it,
But even that would make me smile.