This morning Raylan and I were having breakfast, reading different sections of the paper when Raylan looked up at me and said Lisa Wood died. What??? Lisa Wood, the one we worked with? Yes, Lisa I'm not idiot, she's the one who died. I was in complete and total shock, Lisa was only 43 years old, one year younger than me. How in the HELL can this happen? She was young, beautiful and smart and in a moment she was dead. Her obituary says that she died of a cardiac arrest while jogging on Monday, something she didn't like doing. I was in complete shock and still am and the waves of emotion keep coming.
Lisa and I worked together 16 years ago. We were both Lisa's and pregnant with our first child, both girls. I honestly don't know how I would have got through it without her there day after day to comfort me. We comforted each other through the morning sickness that for us was really more like 24/7 sickness. I vividly remember one morning coming to work after a long night of sitting next to the toilet in the dark and crying my eyes out. I'm relaying this story to her and she looks at me and says you're kidding! That's exactly what I did last night! And at that moment I didn't feel so alone. She kept me sane and helped me laugh at my daily hot flashes that sent me running to the bathroom so I could disrobe and lay on the floor for a few minutes, to the strange cravings. HELLO Hot Dog on a Stick! Ultimately we shared the tremendous joy of carrying our first child and all the dreams we had for our girls. Sadly she won't get to see a lot of those dreams she had for her daughter and the two kids she had following.
After the birth of her little one, Lisa quit her day job to stay at home and I returned to work, got divorced. We still saw each other from time to time, but eventually we drifted apart. Even though I haven't seen or talked to her in many years, her death brings tears to my eyes and reminds me that every time someone you loves walks out the door it may be the last time you see them, so don't miss the opportunity to tell them that you love them! I know that I will be holding my hubby and kids a little tighter tonight knowing I got one more day with them than my friend had with hers.