You may have noticed that a lot of the funny signs I’ve posted over the years have had the credit at the bottom, “Sent to me by my good friend, Marsha.”
She left us on the 6th I found out this morning.
We met over 20 years ago. She contacted me to have her pottery displayed on Creative Artworks, the website my son built for me to display and sell my art work. I ran this website for over 17 years, adding artists to the site until we numbered 100. When Marsha’s hands would not allow her to continue making pottery, she switched to making jewelry from sterling silver and listed it with me.
I only met her face to face once. I lived in Arkansas and she in The Villages, FL. Harvey, my husband, had a business meeting near there and I got to go with him. Marsha and I spent an afternoon together and a close friendship was cemented.
We emailed daily for over 20 years. One of the first things I did each morning was to check for her email. Sometimes we wrote back and forth several times during a day. We became closer than friends. More like sisters. We could tell each other anything and everything without fear of judgment. How special is that?
She became ill this past year. We still wrote daily, but she wrote to me right before she went into hospice last week, saying she had had enough. We had time to tell each other how much we loved each other, would miss each other, and how wonderful it had been to share our friendship, our lives…
I’ve been writing the same message daily to the address she gave me at the hospice, hoping she would read or feel it –
“Marsha, I’m with you and I love you.” For some reason today, I also checked the obituaries, and there it was.
I’m happy she has found peace. She handled things the way she wanted to. The hospice people made it so she didn’t suffer. I hope to see her again some day.
creativeartworksblog 
im so very very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. Its so hard. The love you shared will be with you always. May she be at peace now and I hope you can meet again one day Sending love from Edinburgh Scotland , Lesley-Ann
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Lesley-Ann, thank you so much for writing. This is a huge loss for me, one that slams me in the heart several times a day, but I’m SO lucky to have known her. She was talented, funny, opinionated, and downright kind to the people she cared about. I’m lucky to have shared her life for so long. Right now I’m feeling very greedy, wanting more, but she was SO ready to go, so I’m relieved she is at peace now. Thanks for the love. I can’t tell you how much that means.
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I’m so sorry for the loss of your dear friend Marsha. You are in my thoughts and prayers Linda.
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Thank you very much, very much. She was a wonderful human being.
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I am very sorry for the loss of your friend here on Earth. I am sure it must be bittersweet, the pain of the loss but the happiness knowing that she is no longer in pan. It is such a Blessing to have a good friend, and she sounds as if she was a good friend. Thank you for allowing us to share in your grief. (Donna)
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Donna. MUCH appreciated. We had a long, lovely friendship. I’m happy that she is no longer suffering, though I’m having a bit of trouble not dwelling on my selfish feelings of loss.
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…Ohh nooo
I am so sorry, Linda.
I recall seeing your posts, that line you mentioned, when something was from Marsha.
You’re right though. It’s so hard not to feel selfish when our loved ones pass.
fyi, I know right where The Villages is. Richard and I looked for a place there before we moved to Ocala, FL (before we moved here to New Hampshire).
I am glad Marsha had hospice. They are typically lovely people. Hugs!
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Thanks, Sheila. I’m glad Marsha is at peace now. I’m still in the selfish phase too much, getting slapped in the face with so many things that are different now that she’s gone. One day at a time…
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It’s hard to wrap our minds around. The loss of presence.
Academically we know we lose people, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Be gentle with yourself sweet friend.
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Constant reminders make it hard to let go, from the first thing in the morning when her email isn’t there, to wanting to write a quick note to her… I knew she was going to. We walked together through it. I’m happy she is at peace now. It’s still hard. Thanks for your caring words, Sheila.
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