I have had two very special people in my life through the years. When I was about 10, I met a lady named Phyllis Moore. She was married to the legendary Babe Moore who was quite a hunter and fishermen in his day. He knew the rivers like the back of his hand and often took people from around the world down them for overnight stays. Phyllis must have been in her 60's when I met her. She was very gifted in writing, story telling and doll making. When I met her, I had no idea what she would eventually mean to me. We became "blood sisters" through the ritual poking of the fingers and mixing our blood when I was 11. I thought of her as my sister and her husband as my father as he was the closest thing I knew to one for many years. She and I loved to read and would spend hours taking turns reading to one another and drinking tea. She gave me a childhood that I don't think I would have known without her. I remember so many wonderful memories in her company. One time she got me to giggling so hard that I was huddled on the floor with tears running down my face. I don't think I ever laughed so hard since. She was my friend and my confidante. Secretly, I thought of her like a Mom but I could never tell anyone that because it would have hurt my own mother had she known. Phyllis died May 26, 2002. I had only seen her a few times in the few years before her death and luck would play whether or not she would remember me as she had dementia. I miss her. She was a loyal friend. When I first visited her grave, I shed a lot of tears. I really missed my dear friend. She was eccentric and an idealist. She wasn't afraid to be her true self. I think that's why I loved her so much.

The second dear person in my life is Jeanette Allard. I don't know what I would do without her. She's old enough to be my mother and she's told me that I'm like the daughter she never had. I have the greatest time of my life just spending time with her...talking, shopping...having a drink. It doesn't matter what we are doing as long as we are together. I have never met a woman more gentle, patient and kind. She cares for her 93+ mother like she was her closest friend. I've never seen a mother and daughter relationship so close and thoughtful before. She is married to Reggie, a good man. They get under each other's skin but you can tell when the going gets rough that they really care about one another. Despite the age difference between us, I get along better with Jeanette than anyone in my life. She is direct and honest. She is there through all my failings. She is such a comrade that I'm sure she'd help me dig a hole to hide a body if necessary. JUST KIDDING!!! Of the many things I bring to the Lord each night, I never fail to thank Him for her. She has two children that I have been blessed to be acquainted with. One is named, Dan. In all the years that I have searched and wondered if there was a good man on this earth, it was no wonder that he'd be Jeanette's son. He is a faithful husband and father and is very hard-working. His jokes are corny but he has a smile and twinkle in his eye that you can only adore him. He and his wife have been kind enough to let me put them down to take care of Katie if something should ever happen to me. I have made sure there would be insurance money to provide for her, to raise her and to put her through college but when he learned of this, his response was, "I wouldn't touch it. I'd put it away for her until she was old enough to use it and I'd adopt her and take care of her as my own." How many people do you ever meet in your life with that much compassion and love? So again, I find it as no surprise that he is the same blood as Jeanette. She's like that and she raised her boys to be like her. If you ever have the chance to get to know these people, you would be truly blessed.