Thursday, January 15, 2015
Feeling it today my friend. As I was getting ready for your service on Saturday, trying to conjure up a happy image of you, all I could see was you flinging your curling iron to the floor as you tried to prepare yourself for your Dad's service, sobbing and saying, "I'm not ready, I'm not ready." I get it Sondra McNally Lancaster.
I met Sondra when she was 19, young, fresh-faced, straight from Oz. We worked together and became lifelong best friends. We shared all that life had to offer. The ups, the downs, the joys, the fears, the laughter, the tears. the secrets, the adventures that only best friends can share. Although Sondra was younger than me, my Dad always said she was my big sister. My only sister as I was blessed with two obnoxious brothers. I love Sondra. Sondra loved me. This I know to the depths of my soul. We fought like sisters. But never for long. We had too much life to live to stay mad. We were roommates, she helped raise my sons. When my toddler would get out of bed in the middle of the night and whack her in the face with his bottle and demand MILK, she never complained. She got his milk and tucked him back in bed. Why her? He could reach her bed. He couldn't reach mine. When my oldest got hurt at daycare and I couldn't get there fast enough, it was "Hondra" who picked him up and took him to get stitches. Not only do I love Sondra, my family loves Sondra.
Sondra, I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry for so many things. But you know I will hold you in my heart and thoughts and prayers forever. My best friend. My sister. My snappy, sassy sister. Nobody can snap their fingers like Sondra. Nobody can laugh like Sondra. Nobody can fill the void left by Sondra.
I will see and hear and feel only the joy of having shared so much of life with her. Snapping those fingers, dancing in the car, singing at the top of her lungs. Musical, magical Sondra.
To Kyle and Keylee, you made her so very, very proud. You paid great tribute to her. Carry on, keep making her proud. She worshipped you and so do I.
Kathy, Susie, Scott - she is at peace and she was so very loved. May God bless and comfort you.
Tom, hold our girl close and give her a bear hug for me!
