"They have to eat too"...

Yesterday and today have been sad days for me. I got word yesterday afternoon that Pearl has passed away. My heart just broke and I cried and cried. I had seen her about a week or so ago. I'd try to call a few times to set up a time to go visit and just kept getting her voicemail. When the aide didn't call me back, I knew something was up.

I still don't know exacltly what happened, if she was at home or in the hospital or what, but she's gone. I just pray that she didn't die in pain.

I went to her service this morning and it was very sweet. Lots of people there, but not near as many as wanted to be, I'm sure. But since the custom is to bury her so quickly, I suspect some people just couldn't get there in time. I'm very glad that I found out and was able to attend.

Her nephew got up and spoke for a mintue and said, I'm sure everyone has a Pearl story and of course, things started going through my head like the times we would just hang out at her place, trying to teach her email and Word. The weekend we went to Atlantic City and gambled. The night we went to see one play and she came with an unexpected visitor and she was so cute about it. She's like, I didn't invite her, I don't want her here, really, but we got her! LOL We had a great time at the play and enjoyed the company. The political debates she would have with me, now mind you, I never said a word, just nodded and let her go on about how being a Republican was horrible. She'd always tell me, "I'm not supposed to love you, you're a Christian, (she was Jewish), you're a southerner, (she was a yankee) and you're a Republican, (she was a Democrat), I'm not sure why, but I just do. I just love you!" It always made me smile. I'd tell her that it's just the way God planned it, he planned me to bring some southerner, Christian, Republicanisms into her life. She thought God had a great sense of humor!

But as I was sitting there the funniest story that popped into my head was one night when we went to dinner. Pearl had gotten a free dinner coupon from this place. We go and it turns out to be a country bar type place, yep, in Manhattan. Anyway, we ordered our food and as I was finnishing my last bite a roach crawled across the table in front of me! I said, Pearl, honey, a roach just crawled right here. She said well, Sundi, they have to eat too! LOL, that's what I loved about her, nothing like that phased her, she just took it all in stride.

To my Pearl, I will miss you a lot and I love you just as much!