Knoxville to Chattanooga TN - July 15

Knoxville to Chattanooga TN - July 15

We had an easy morning of getting packed and I almost got caught up on the blog.

Greg wanted to return to the SoKno Mexican Cantina again, so we went there for lunch on the way to Chattanooga. 

I got a message from my best friend’s daughter saying that Mary was in hospice. Mary has been my best friend (not counting Greg of course), for many years. We met when I was just out of X-ray school and started working with her at a family practice office. She took me under her wing and showed me the ropes of working in a doctor’s office. I learned X-ray in school, but not back office duties. We met at a time when we both were recently divorced and raising our kids alone. (she has 2 children and I have 1) We could always tell each other anything and we never judged. I will miss her so much. We could talk for hours on the phone. Those who know me well, know that I really hate talking on the phone. She (and my son) are the only calls that I enjoy. She loved to hear about our travel adventures and was so excited to hear about (and offer suggestions) on our new house. I loved hearing about what was going on in her life. She has been ill for years and I have lost count of the times she was told to “get her affairs in order”. I called her my “energizer bunny” since she always kept on going. I am thankful for all the extra years we had. (as is her family)

When I last spoke with her, she had just gone into a nursing home. I could tell she “was ready”. Life was just too painful and just not fun anymore. She has a strong loving family and I know she held on longer because of them.

Her daughter had me call on her cell phone so she could hold it up to Mary’s ear so I could say goodbye. Mary can’t speak and is non-responsive. Her daughter told me she started blinking her eyes and tried to move her lips. I can’t stop crying. I’m glad I got to tell her I loved her and tell her she was the best friend anyone could have. She wanted no heroic measures and is on no food or water. (she couldn’t hold it down anyway) Her daughter told me she would let me know when she passed. Mary wanted no funeral and didn’t want me to come if her family did one anyway. I told her to please understand that the funeral isn’t really for YOU, it’s for the living. Especially her grandchildren. I understand her request as I feel a bit the same. These days instead of a morbid funeral we have celebrations of life. She always had such a wonderful positive attitude, no matter how she felt. I think helped her live longer as well.

Thank you all for allowing me to express some of my feelings here.

Tomorrow, we start exploring Chattanooga.