Today is supposed to be a happy day, a day that marks the beginning of the advent and count down to Christmas. But, sadly, it is not a happy day. Our friend and colleague Les, passed away this morning. She was diagnosed with lung cancer just 12 days ago. I have bearly had a chance to tell people. We had lived in hope until she was due to see the oncologist today. I miss her so much already. Her deep happy voice and the way she said my name, Rix. Even the last sms I got from her was Thanks Rix.
I bought a sunflower on Saturday and planted it on Sunday and vowed to think of her and send karma to her everytime I looked at the sunflower. This morning when I woke up, I looked outside and looked at the sunflower and had a very bad feeling. I got to work and felt suspicious. Howard looked a bit sad and when I went into our office, I thought Gail also looked sad. But I was relieved to hear it was just work "stress" and having to work over the week end, that was getting her down. Gail actually got the call from Heather midday and I saw Gail closing her eyes and saying " I don't believe it" I was too scared to ask, and didn't even think it could be Les, until she confirmed it was. Heather told Deanne and she went into Ronnie's office crying. Ronnie didn't even come out of his office to offer words of comfort, but I guess each to their own. He later told us that one of his clients had also passed away last night in Amsterdam.
But life just goes one and one has to suck it up. Work has been so hectic for everyone with the Irish being down so we just had to get on with it and save our grief for home.
When I came home I just lay on Thomas's bed and hugged the kids and shed a tear or 2. Thomas asked me how adults cry, and I said. "just like children" I asked him if he had ever seen me cry and he said, No mommy, are your crying now, because your cheeks are wet. Which of course made it worse!
I am so glad that Les got to celebrate her last birthday at our house in Feb, when we combined a girls night and surprised her with champagne, a home baked cake (by me!) and pressies. I still have the champagne bottle, as she sms'd me on their way home to ask me to keep it. I never got to tell her that I still have the champagne bottle. Well, now I'm going to cherish it forever, along with the memories of our lunch at the Brass bell, our drunken nights at the Avis box, including the night we got kicked out at 02h00 in the morning and Les had her car locked in the parking garage. What a mission it was to get out. The travel bags lunch that she invited me to. She was such a good person and even though she didn't have alot, she always gave what she had.
My thoughts are with her family - Her parents, and her 3 children, Jessica (7), Bradley (26) and Mike (24)
Death is not easy to deal with. We really have to enjoy and cherish each day as life is so short.
R.I.P my friend, Les. I love you.
