Long Trip Home

We have set out on the long trip home that I never thought I would have to take. I am going back home to bury my best friend. She was taken from us way too young and too fast.

Some of the things I have learned over the past 36 hours:

1. Life is short, sweet, and needs to be cherished.
2. Remember the important things are friends and family.
3. Go out of your way to say hi, to text whats up, to tell someone you love them, you might not get another chance.
4. Let pictures be taken of you! You should not be so vain as to keep these memories from your loved ones.

These are just a few of the things, I know I will learn more as the days go by.

Margaret and I were best friends in high school. In fact, we actually lived in the same small, one room apartment for a little while. Then we were neighbors for a little while. She dated a guy I had known since I was three or so.
I joined the Navy, got married, moved to the East Coast and lost touch. We touched base ever so often, but email hadn't come along, and long distant phone calls were expensive.
We finally touched base again about two years ago, and never looked back. We began our friendship again as if we had never had any time apart. Of course there have been changes. She now has six kids, I have two, she is married, I divorced my husband, and remarried a woman. Margaret wasn't fazed a bit.
She met K online, chatted with her through facebook and on the phone and when visits occurred it was like no time had lapsed. She accepted me for me. Always had. She was glad to see me happy. Had told K she could see the love between us and she was grateful that I had finally found someone who truly made me happy. Margaret was my life friend.
Margaret has now passed through my life. I miss her. I am going to find a way to make sure the last text messages we exchanged never go away.
I am thankful that I had only seen her in April. Not 45 days before she passed away. The last thing I did in person was hug her and tell her I loved her.

The last thing I will get to do is to tell her I love her still, tell her I will miss her every day for the rest of my life, and then do the hardest thing I have ever done - bury her.

Then what?