When Sheila gave me the news of Char’s passing at the Rose City Classic I sat with my mouth open, uncomprehending. I still can’t realize that she’s gone. Char, of course, would slap me on the back of the head and tell me to “get over it”. She has been in my life for 30 years and we shared so much over that time: Our dogs, my kids, our love of words, our deepest darkest secrets and our greatest joys. When her mother passed, my mother “adopted” her and she was always in Mom’s prayers. Mom always called her Charm and I think it fits. I remember in the late 90”s we took a writing class together. I had to drag her, kicking and screaming into that class. Her excuses ran from “people wouldn’t like her” (as if) to “I can’t write” and on. Of course, everyone did like her and boy, could she write! Her quirky wit, her calm rational thought process and her ability to make it simple came shining through and she was the star of the class!
I’m devastated that I wasn’t there to help and comfort her at the end, but she knew I loved her like a sister and always will.
Penny
