Vivian

Its been awhile since I have written. Time has marched on in the UP and summer is here complete with its warmth and some very hot days and respite cool like this morning. It is beautiful this morning.

I would like to think of this day as honoring a friend of mine Vivian who passed away this week and is now in the presence of Jesus. There are few times when I feel a peace about someone passing. Vivian is someone who showed Jesus in her life and her spirit and I can only be thankful that she is at peace today. I had Vivian on my mind this past week before her passing and did not act on that thought with a phone call. In fact I hate to admit to you or myself that I haven't talked to her since last October when we were in Phoenix and visited her and George three times and knew then that she had been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. She didn't like to think that we were leaving and not knowing when we would be back. I think that I didn't call thinking I could keep her alive by not worrying that she would be gone on our return. Life has a way of sucking you into all its immediate concerns and sometimes we let go of the very things we need to be attending to. So now she is gone and I am happy for her that she is ultimately healed and experiencing what we can only hope and imagine. The one thing that Vivian gave to me was her incredible, positive spirit of faith and hope. She went through more than most in her life but she always would bounce back. She has survived family crises, multiple illnesses, surgeries and yet her joy of life was infectious. She always beat the odds! She was fun to be around. I will miss her and it was my loss to not attend to her these last months of her life. I am glad that I will see her again and that smile. Thanks Vivian for your example.

I love you Vivian.

See you at the end of my journey. Congratulations on your graduation!