Bobby, we are all just so human and these things are very difficult to face.
I did the same thing with my Aunt Belvia.  When she was dying she and her
daughter, Elaine, needed help, but I was so busy working two jobs that I
wasn't there for them.  I didn't need the second job, I just loved to work
and loved the store where I worked.  My Aunt and cousin lived right around
the corner from me and I wasn't even there for them.  That's where I should
have been.

It's ironic now that I am the one who needs help, the people I worked so hard
for can't seem to remember they once called me friend, but my cousin has been
making ongoing offers to me and my Mom.  I need her help, I just plain need
help!  But I am too ashamed to ask her for it.  This is the most profound
lesson I have ever learned.  I'll be thinking about this from time to time
for the rest of my life.

I'm very sorry about Paul.

Betty



In a message dated 05/26/2000 11:23:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< You show great courage Yvonne. I have had a few friends die of cancer and I
 must admit I ran and did some of the thingsyou and Betty mentioned and now
 I am asheamed. My best friend, Paul, died of liver cancer, brought on by
 Hepatitis C brrought on by IV drug use. When wrote a lot together and made
 many people laugh. We wrote a paly together while he died. I acted in that
 damn play and I hated it. But my memories of Paul are good ones. But it is
 terrifying to see your best friend slowly slip away. I have not been really
 creative since then except for CP PJ Man.

 Bobby >>