Mildred and Chris

I swear, my blog won’t always be about death after this post.

Near the end of September I was feeling heavy and asked for you, my dear blog friends to say some prayers for my friends Mildred and Chris.

I’d met Chris through blogging in 2009; she wrote about her life, just as I did. We connected over our love of boxers and our enjoyment of absolute silliness. After a few years, she quit blogging, but we were Facebook friends. She was a sweet woman who had many health challenges over the years, but she always had this lovely outlook on life; she really lived each moment and rarely wallowed over her ailments. She loved to send me cute butterfly or bee photos or some funny jokes via messenger. I was sad to learn that her body was failing her via one of her sons, and then she passed away a week later. Chris was in her early 60’s.

I can only hope that there is a heaven where Chris will be surround by boxer puppies & rescue cats and that her body is healthy and strong.

My sweet friend Mildred had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer several months ago. She went into this with a positive attitude, jumping through all the damn insurance hoops to start chemo. Sadly, the chemo was taking a toll on not only her, but her family who she is the sole caretaker of.

My heart broke for her. Still though, she kept her sunny outlook although she had wished for more time to do all the things she wanted to do.

She opted for home hospice to make it easier on her family, and then last Monday the pain was too much and she opted to go to a hospice facility. Her husband emailed me on Saturday morning letting me know she had passed away.

{the Busy Bee girls with Mildred 2010}

It was a mere 11 years ago that we finally met up in person ; we’d already been blog friends for several years. While the girls and I were visiting my Mom in GA the four of us took a 40 minute ride over to see Mildred and her husband. We had such a great visit; Mildred took us to an interesting art boutique for some shopping therapy, then we picked up lunch and ate together at their home. Ironically, that very art boutique has now added a wine/music venue and I’ve been there several times as it’s very close to our GA house. Thank you Mildred for that introduction.


Mildred and John moved away from the GA area several years ago, so that was our one and only in-person visit. We snail-mailed and emailed often and she was SO darn excited for Lolo’s wedding. I was happy to email her some ‘not ready to share with the pubic’ photos a few weeks ago. Even the day before she left for hospice, she was emailing me and saying how much she loved my family and was so happy and proud of our daughters. (Mildred did not have any children herself)

Mildred was the sweetest soul and one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. She always left the sweetest comments and sometimes she would think of something after the fact and email me whatever she thought of, sometimes it was something silly that she didn’t think the entire internet needed to know.

I can only hope that there is a heaven for Mildred where she will reconnect with her parents whom she adored, be surrounded by happy dachshunds and that she can eat endless desserts without gaining a pound.

Life truly is fleeting.

If I’m not back later this week, it’s been fun.

If I’m back later, I might have something silly to talk (or complain) about.

Did any of you realize that you could find lovely friends through blogging? I wasn’t expecting that to happen.

Thank you for being here with me; my friends who live in my computer actually live in my heart too.

XOXO

Your friend Suz

30 thoughts on “Mildred and Chris”

  3. It’s very cruel when profound losses pile up like this. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take some time and mourn them, feel your pain, and then go on with gratitude for having had them in your life when you did.

    Like you, I’m very happy that I’ve made so many connections through my writing online. The friendships are just as real and invested as if they were in person. It’s a miracle, really.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. So very sorry for the loss of your friends. It surely does make you realize how fleeting life is. My blog friends were a lifeline when my mother was dying. Always there, always supportive. It’s a different type of relationship, but a relationship all the same.
    💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. Yes, something wonderful about these online connections.
      Mildred actually started blogging after her Mom passed away as a way to connect with people.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. Dorothy of the Frog and PenguINN blog also wrote about Mildred, so I guess we’re all connected somehow. Which is another thing I love about blogging. Yes, the friendships are real yet so different from real life. Sometimes, we know each other better by sharing our inner thoughts online. I’m so glad you had the chance to meet Mildred and now will think of her every time you visit that venue. If we don’t talk later, I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving. XO

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Mildred forged many connections via blogging. She started her blog after her Mom had passed away. You are correct too; I probably shared more ‘inside’ information here than on the day-to-day with people.

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  6. I’m so sorry, Suz. She sounded like a wonderful human.
    Blog friends are so wonderful, aren’t they?
    I believe it’s because they get to know you for who you truly are. These blogs, they are truly soul saving.
    Sending you a hug, my friend.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. So sorry to read this. They both sound amazing and fun. Sorry for your loss. I’m so happy that you met Mildred in person and that you have memories of both women to cherish. Lovely photos.

    I was just thinking about blogging yesterday. I started blogging thinking I’d figure out a way to make a little extra income from it. Well, that didn’t happen, but I feel like I gained so much more. Is there a saying that goes something like: SOMETIMES YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED, NOT WHAT YOU WANT? It’s been such a source of comfort, support, and laughter building friendships with people I never would’ve met otherwise. Sometimes I think my blog friends know me better than those I cross paths with in person. The friends I’ve made and have connected with through blogging mean so much.

    I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving. Thinking of you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much.
      I think the Rolling Stones said: You can’t always get what you want, you sometimes get what you need. 🙂
      I’m so thankful to have you in my corner.

      Like

  9. I wasn’t expecting it to happen either, but I have found wonderful friends through blogging…friends who I now see in real life. It can be hard to make friends as an adult but it is easier to find like-minded souls through this medium, I have realized. You can usually get a good sense of a person, through their blog and/or their comments.

    The downside of more good friends is that it means opening one’s self up to more losses in the future. Unless of course I am the one who goes first. And then, I hope that I am grieved as you are grieving for your friends. My condolences, Suz.

    Deb

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I’m sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful person.

    Years ago, I made friends with a great group of women on a weight-loss forum. The forum closed down, so we created a private FB group. We all still interact there, and it’s been a great experience. We’ve shared many experiences, i.e. marriages, break-ups, births, and deaths. Truly blessed.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Oh Suz – the hits to your tender heart just keep coming. I am so sorry for the loss of your friends and will keep you and their families in my heart.

    No, when I started blogging, I never expected that I’d find friends – actually, I can honestly say I have more blogging friends than I have IRL friends – that’s not as pitiful as it sounds, honestly. But I am too tired to find the words to explain it right now. Most of the people, I’ve never met, online hold special places in my heart.

    Sending you love. xo

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Just two nights ago, I learned an acquaintance I’d known in WA state had passed away a few months earlier. I can’t help but reflect on the several people in my life whom have died much too soon over the past decade. I know how firsthand painful that can be for the people who are left behind.

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  15. I’m so sorry about your friends. I have met several of my blog friends over the years. Two of them live in Michigan one in Tennessee. When I know I’m going to be in their area I always reach out to see if we could meet up! It’s always fun!

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