Sue was introduced into my world when we were both getting ready for 4th grade. Our parents were friends in school and brought us together. We lived two blocks away from each other and were always together throughout high school. She was my matron of honor.


We formed the "SPOO'S" one night when we were driving around town. We were all extremely pleased with ourselves with coming up with the idea and what the name stood for. I am assuming that since Marlene didn't tell the significance of the name that it is still a secret. If memory serves me, Sandra McGough, and Mary Lee Johnson were also part of that night.


As people tend to do, our lives went different directions; but I remember Sue as a good part of my life. The memories of those years with the humor and escapes are a blessing God has allowed me to retain. 


I know that I will see Sue again and that makes it ok.    

Dear Mom

It has also  taken me a week also to wrap my head around the fact you are gone. You asked me towards the end, if i would be "relieved" if you were to pass away. I told you at the time "yes", it would mean you would finally be freed of the body, that was no longer of service to you. I also told you that i would miss you very much and what a good mom you were to myself and Mark. I like to think that you now have that new body, and are as happy to see Mark once again, its his turn to celebrate a Mother's Day with you. 

Mark & I couldn't have asked for a better mom.  You did everything for us.  And most of all you set an example for me to raise my children, your grandchildren and i know that you were proud of them and me. 

Thats all for this evening.  

P.S. Allison got me pajamas for Mother's Day. Pretty ironic don't you think? :) 

Love you Mom, always and forever. 

Natalie 

 

Some 57 years ago I met  Susan Elizabeth Ashba in an 8thn grade class at Central Jr. High in Lima, Ohio.  She has been a "spoo", secret club, sister and a friend.  It's taken me this last week to wrap my mind around the fact that she is gone.  We laughed till we cried, cried till we could see the humor in almost any situation, sang, badly, danced, again badly but with gusto, and kept each others secrets.


Suzie and her entire family, my brother Scott, and Natalie and Mark all changed their lives for me.  They moved from Lakewood for almost two years to Catalina Island so that my daughter and I would be safe.  What a sacrifice!  She looked at it as an adventure and never made a big deal about it, but it was a big deal. 


While on Catalina, we learned to make zuchini at least a hundred different ways, and to this day I can't eat the stuff.  We ran a 5k run together ,the first and last, went on a houseboat on Lake Powell with 8 other woman, and survived!


She was interested in everyone's life and people would just open up to her   because of that interest, this was still true as she enjoyed the gossip, rumors and  drama at the assisted living facility in Hemet.


A   dedicated walker, she kept in great shape and had a flair for style, both in decorating and personal grooming, I envied how she could put an outfit together!
She also chose a vegetarian lifestyle and loved harvard beets, rice and cauliflower with cheese, that all changed about three years ago when she started eating chicken and eventually found the cheeseburger at in and out! 

When she was feeling well enough we ventured from the assisted living to a movie or shopping at her favorite "thrift store or 99c store, she loved these outings but never complained when it was time to return.

On a recent visit I told her how brave she was and started to say, "if I could trade places with you, I hesitated and finished with I wouldn't " she just laughed.
 

I'd ask her if she needed anything, just  a new body she would reply, but she was still there mentally for the most part and that's when the Suzie I knew and loved would be back.    


She enjoyed her life, kids, grandkids and friends, can any of us ask for more?

I am so  lucky and blessed to have had her in my life ,    and my memories will remind me of that fact!