How does one honor their hero and mourn their loss at the same time?
Here it goes...I will remember Bernice as a survivor, warrior, fighter, risk-taker, a woman who sought out joy and adrenaline combined as she set about conquering her ambition's list.
A woman who loved with fierce devotion her husband and soulmate Brian, her family and friends.
A woman dedicated to her love for her fur family, the many in her life.
A woman who filled the world with her infectious laughter, while also sharing the sweetness she possessed.
I will always remember and cherish the kindness in her heart. Many times she would share a special picture of Ketchup and say " For you Sharon"
Though Bernice and I did not have the chance to meet in person, we shared a mutual love of cats and met through The Turkish Van Cat Club, a Facebook community page.
Over the years of knowing Bernice and learning more about her through her book that she wrote, " I Will Survive", she became my hero.
I felt her spirit walking at my side, giving me hope that I too must continue to fight for my life as she so gallantly fought for hers.
She has taken up a permanent residence in my heart, where I will continue to feel her presence and draw from her strength.
I could go on and on about Bernice...but I will just share one last thing that I have never confessed to her or Brian or anyone else.
When Bernice and Brian would share their videos with us of their home life, laughing and playing with their beloved cats and bearing witness to the joy and love contained in them....I privately wished of being adopted by them too. Me, a 50+ yr old woman with such a nutty wish, that I never shared because of being embarrassed at its sheer craziness. But it is true. I share it now, because it is a testament to how I feel about them as a family and how lucky I would feel to be a part of what they have and how they all interacted together.
I miss Bernice and will always love her dearly.
I offer my deepest sympathies to Brian, and all of Bernice's loved ones.
Bernice = my hero.
With Love,
Sharon and my furry companion Bob.