Goodbyes have never been my
strong suit. Sharlene was someone that was
not only my childhood friend but also a vital member of the B&H family. To my crew, she was our caring bookkeeper and
we are mourning the loss of someone so special.
I have known her as long as my
memory will allow me to recall. Her family lived around the corner only a few
houses away allowing us free reign to share dolls, stickers, homework, bus
rides, stories of first kisses, gossip of every kind, and Christmas wish lists
to name a few. We went trick-or-treating, rode bikes to Dairy Queen, built
forts, played hide-n-seek, camped in the backyard, and replayed the same song
until we knew every word. The rule
between the houses was that if the street lights came on or if we heard our dads
whistle, it was time to come home. We each had our stalling techniques to
prolong the inevitable. As we entered our teens the scheming became more
elaborate. The life stories we shared proved that adulthood was upon us and our
friendship grew stronger. Neither of us
could have predicted that one day we’d work together.
I feel more lucky than sad at
this moment knowing that I had a friend so special that makes saying goodbye so
incredibly hard.
There’s a saying that we die
twice. The first is when we stop
breathing and a second time, when somebody says your name for the last
time. Thankfully, Sharlene has touched
the lives of so many people that the stories we get to share will allow us to
celebrate her spirit and good character for as long as we live.
You will be sorely missed my dear
friend.
Jen
