'Till Death Do Us Part

Autumn March for ALS Committee

In my mind today, I'm thinking about true partnerships and commitments. Yesterday was a dear friend's birthday. We've know each other for years, but as of late we've become "soul sisters."

Our lives have eerily paralleled. We married young to older men who had children. We love being a mother. We put love into creating and sustaining our marriages. We both deal with health issues of our spouses and our own. Thirty years ago when we fell in love with these men, we never envisioned the mountains we would climb. We both know where we draw our strength to push forward relishing every grandchild and moments of true love.

It's not all roses and we both have our crying days. I know that I can be real with her. We both miss so many of the same things. We let each other know it's okay to grieve our healthy years. With the help of our amazing husbands, we've grown to understand and cherish "In sickness and in health and until death do us part." Would we change any of it? Never.

She recently had a birthday. In the wee hours, she awoke to another bout of sickness. In the mist of cleaning up after her physically challenged, dearly loved husband she found a letter he had written to her before the "stomach bug" attacked. She read it to me and I felt tears fall down my cheeks. How lovely to be cherished and loved so, so much. Even better is to know and realize God's blessings amid the storms of life and be so blessed with true love. This is truly what life is about.

Happy Birthday my friend. You are the wind beneath so many wings. Like the wind, you go unnoticed but always felt. You always are thinking of ways to serve others unbeknownst. I love and treasure my "soul sister." Thank you for being that wind beneath my wings when I feel like giving up. Happy, Happy Birthday!

Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Soul Sister Gal

Dedicated to Tracy

Quotes of the Day:
"You need a lot of luck to find people with whom you want to spend the rest of your life. Some people manage to find their soul mate. Others don't. I think love is like a lottery."
Kylie Minogue

"There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved."
George Sand

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Lao Tzu

"Thank you for teaching me the true meaning of family."
R.W.C.

"I love you more than peach milkshakes, enough said."
R.W.C.