Darlene and depression

Tonight I decided to go visit Darlene and try to shake the depression I am feeling. Seeing her with her scarf over a bald head should give me plenty to think about. I remember the day we found out she had cancer and the tears we shed. Yesterday she called me and said she gave my name to the United Cancer Society as a contact person. Now that is quite an honor. I know her cancer is serious but I am not as pessimistic as I was when we first found out.
September 5th. Innocence. New beginnings. Old memories.

Friendship Facts

Darlene is a different ethnicity than I am. When she had her nervous breakdown a few years ago, her family was very cold towards me. Maybe because I am white and because she is black. Maybe because I am in HR and they thought I cared for her only because it was my job to do so. I knew after my first phone call to see how she was that I was not welcome.

Today when she called me she told me that she made it very clear to her family that if anything should happen to her, that they were to call me. She told them that I am to be at any surgical proceedure. That I could come visit any time. She told them I am her true friend. I do not call to be nosy. I call because I care. Her mom agreed. She told her that now she knows and she likes me as well. I guess there are no shades of gray here. We are friends. That is as black and white as it gets.

He IS God. He IS good.

Today Darlene called and said that the doctors said the cancer has not spread to her liver, kidney, or bones. What a praise! I told her I have a treat I want to make for her because it is something that is refreshing and probably will taste good. I missed her very much at today's staff meeting. I always joked and said that on 'Survivor Sears' we had an alliance. And we did. And we do.

Laughing with Darlene

A week ago my dear friend Darlene was diagnosed with cancer. I don't know how many days we will have left to laugh together but today we did. I asked her if black people go bald from chemo and she said that they do. She said she already has a wig and I asked her if it was blonde, like me. We laughed about all the possibilities - blonde, redhead, and even blue. I don't know how many more days we will have to laugh together, but today we did and it was nice.