Today I am sad.

Today two people I loved died or are near death.

I maintain a network of "friends" from old jobs. We e-mail occasionally, send a Christmas card, share happy thoughts and sometimes challenges. A special person from Washington who had an impact on my life has been one of those friends. We worked side by side and had so much in common. She came to my wedding, Bruce and I went to hers...she finally found true love at age 36.

After I left WA, she was at a conference in Seattle and collapsed. By the time her co-workers found her in her room, it was too late for Dr's to do anything. She had a massive stroke and would be paralyzed the rest of her life, at age 37.

We always kept in contact. She maintained a positive outlook and even did wheelchair runs. I hadn't heard from her in a while and was wondering why she hadn't responded to my Christmas note this year. This morning I came across her FaceBook page. The top comment said, "Kathy, it has been a year. We miss you so much and know you have wings in heaven."

To say I was shocked is the least. I read all the comments. She had wrote her own eulogy. People said it was a beautiful service. Her devoted husband was devastated. She impacted so many lives. Kathy, my dear, long distance, occasional email friend, was dead at 54. Even though she died a year ago, to me she died this morning.

Then mom called. Aunt Cleo was in the hospital. She didn't know much more.

I went to my Dr's appointment. He was 1 1/2 hours late because of an early delivery (baby). I got groceries. My phone was dead, but I saw Leroy and Duane had tried to call me. Brenda calls. Aunt Cleo is dying. I plugged my phone into the car and Leroy tells me Aunt Cleo, 10 years younger than my mom, had a massive brain hemorrhage or clot and half her brain was black. They had taken her off life support. I got home and there were 5 distraught messages from my mother. "Where are you..."

I felt so bad, I called mom immediately. She has lost her younger sister - it will probably only be a matter of hours or days.

Before I left home in 1978, I had spent a lot of time with Aunt Cleo. I used to babysit her kids. During my first marriage, I spent a lot of time with her and Bob.

We grew apart, but I had been at her last birthday party: we celebrated hers and mom's together. She was a good woman who helped her kids a lot.

I am grateful I knew both Kathy & Cleo. They made a difference in my life.

I am grateful, but I am sad today.