LINDA RONSTADT
"Goodbye My Friend"

Oh we never know where life will take us
I know it's just a ride on the wheel
And we never know when death will shake us
And we wonder how it will feel

So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the time together through all the years
Will take away these tears
It's okay now
Goodbye my friend

I've seen a lot things that make me crazy
And I guess I held on to you
We could've run away and left well maybe
But it wasn't time and we both knew

So goodbye my friend
I know I'll never see you again
But the love you gave me through all the years
Will take away these tears
I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend

Life's so fragile and love's so pure
We can't hold on but we try
We watch how quickly it disappears
And we never know why

But I'm okay now
Goodbye my friend
You can go now
Goodbye my friend

My friend. My second Mom. A awesome and courageous woman I loved dearly. How do we ever know that someone so special will walk into our lives who once was a total stranger. We walk different paths and come to know different people for many reasons. I first met you when I first came over to criminal as a clerk back in 2008. So many years have now passed until now and I feel like I've known you all my life. I knew the day I met you... this is just like talking to my mom I have to watch what I say to her because the words that come out of her mouth are the exact words that would come from my own mother. Do I really want to hear the response? Of course I did. You never held your tongue on anything. Whether you thought my decision was stupid and the "what are you thinking Ja'?" I always got the right answers of course being young you think you don't want to hear it. But I loved knowing I could still come to you and you would never judge me. I remember going through a tragedy of your son in law which brought us a bit closer I believe. You always celebrated my anniversary dates of my daughter passing years ago, you still celebrated and thought of me on those certain days. I was able to learn about this wonderful mysterious man who would spoil you with lunch everyday and even met Romeo through you. I knew your daughters through you, yet I never had physically met any of them. But they all became a part of my family. I was able to share some of the most embarrassing things with you and you helped me through them. I remember you experimenting with you "Dong ko Hesh" lol. Something you found that you knew you would use for "hot flashes" so I started calling you that. I just thought that name was so hilarious. I was so sad when I knew you got a  new position and was leaving me I couldn't resist coming to visit you all the time. Then I can remember when you started to get sick, and I didn't want to believe it was happening. You never want to see a person you love going through pain. I just wanted each day I saw you that you would be smiling so I tried to get things just to put a smile on your face so you wouldn't have to think of any pain. I made the blanket especially for you because you were able to use it for your Chemo. I brought the scriptures so each day you could read Gods words wherever you were to uplift you. A mirror to see how beautiful you are regardless of what you were going through, whether you had to shave your hair, or just not feeling yourself you were beautiful. The butterfly cup, symbol for cancer. Yet they are my favorite. They are a symbol of resurrection, hope and joy and new beginnings. Which you are finally off to that new beginning in God's palace. Just like the caterpillar grows into something beautiful like yourself. The scarfs because I wanted you to feel pretty as you always were. Gifts never make up for what a person is filling but my gifts were to symbolize how I felt about you. I will forever miss you. I hold onto the texts we sent all through the this past year. Your pictures I would get from you in the hospital. All the I love you Ja's. I will hold on to all of them. I hold onto the time I came to see you at Thunderbird the time we got to share.. You were so strong I admired your fight. You no longer had to fight. I knew this week you didn't want the fight any longer and you didn't have to. God was ready for you and you were ready for him to have you. I will forever miss you and continue to pray for your loved ones. You are forever missed and but never forgotten. You're always in my heart. I miss you "My Dagna". you and Queen have fun and take care of us all. Rest in paradise. Ja' (Jacques' Porter)

You can shed tears that she is gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
Or you can be full of the love and memories that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.