TheBanyanTree: Will it ever stop.....

[Sharon Mack]

Last week I heard that one of the dearest friends I have ever known has
had her cancer return (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma).  She beat it once (the
chemo was so bad they gave her up for dead) but she made it and has been
cancer-free for ten years.  This summer she went to Ireland to see the
family cottage that still exists and while climbing one of the cliffs
had a stroke.  She came back seemingly well but never seemed to regain
her old vigor.

Eileen is not a young woman (mid to late 70's, I believe), so this is
devastating news. She is so very weak that she is letting people know
she will not be around much.  We are staying in touch via email....she
grows weaker each day and yet begins each one of her emails with, "How's
Phil doing?"

This lady has two masters degrees, one in literature, one in library
science.  We talk writing, reading, movies, theatre, music.  Every
summer we plan a big theatre date with just the gals.  She is
responsible for locating a new and exciting restaurant for us to
luncheon at and then we go to the matinee and then to cocktails for a
good chat about the play.

She just visited my home two weeks ago.  We and three other ladies
watched the movie, Mrs. Dalloway and then The Hours (I firmly believe
you cannot get the full portent of The Hours without seeing or knowing
the story of Mrs. Dalloway).  We had a wonderful discussion afterward. 
Eileen knew all kinds of  anecdotes and tidbits about the author,
Virginia Woolfe and others involved in her life.  It was one of the BEST
afternoons we've ever had.

Eileen has a soft hesitant way of speaking...and if you are not patient
or are too loud, you will miss all of the wonderful things she has to
share.  Best of all is her dry, dry sense of humor.  Many a morning I
have come in to work and opened her emails and laughed my head off. 
Usually they are funny, intellectually stated, dry witted anecdotes
about herself or her family.

She is such a gem.  I am afraid we are about to lose her.  It would be
a most terrible loss.  Once again I ask you to pray (or whatever it is
that you do) that my friend may be spared one more time from this
horrible invasive disease.

The good news is that I could email her back today and tell her that it
has been five whole days since Phil has seen the inside of an emergency
room.....thanks to all of you!


Sharon