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[Rochelle]

A  good friend of mine,  a w&F member and  sometimes a poster on these forums passed away  on Friday. Laura retained her humor and optimism even through her on and off battles with cancer for almost 20 years. When her husband died a couple of months ago, I knew she might be facing her toughest fight yet.

 I believe that part of what kept her going through the past five years through innumerable chemo and radiation treatments, was knowing that her hubby (who was confined to a wheelchair) needed her help. She was determined to outlast him.

I will miss her a lot. We saw each other infrequently, talked on the phone some, but carried on some lengthy e-mail sharing when she was feeling up to it.

I saved a lot of her e-mail stories to send to her daughter.
I know she would like to be remembered with a smile, so I don't think she would mind if I shared one of her stories here.

As back story-- I'll mention that the Middle-Eastern storekeepers who moved into this small conservative community, not long after 9/11, were not necessarily welcomed with open arms by some.  (but they stayed and made themselves part of the local scene.)

One of Laura's stories:

"I had to take Joe [her husband] into town for his monthly blood test this morning and as we usually do we stopped at Woodland Center for gas and I also needed a pkg. of hot dog buns. I used my  card and the pump kept beeping and reading to pick up my receipt at the office.  A young, probably late teen, very nice looking Middle Easterner was manning the cash register.

  He said,'Hi' so I thought all was well.  The only other employees there were an older man with 3 teeth, a long tunic top, baggy silky pants and a Navy watchcap on in 90 degree weather and a young [local] girl who was outside taking her smoke break.  I couldn't find the hot dog buns, so I asked the young Mid.East.clerk where I could find them.  He laughed and said,'no--no-- we don't sell them.' I, of course said, 'you don't sell hot dog buns'?

Again the nervous laugh and no....no. So, I asked if he sold hamburger buns.The reply, 'I don't think so'.  Then he smiled handsomely and said, 'come I show you,' and walked outside, with me following like a idiot, and said, 'see...no dogs for sale'.  

A very nice local Mexican man was inside shopping and about to burst and showed me where the hot dog buns were.  I took them to the counter and said, 'see, these are hot dog buns'.  The clerk laughed again.

 Then I wanted my receipt for my gas purchase..... Another story.  I finally said, will someone help me? The young [local] gal came in and muttered as she passed by me that she wasn't going to last long here.  The clerk did apologize to me by saying, 'sorry.. I'm from another country'.  No Kidding.

When I got back in the car, Joe asked me what the clerk was showing me outside.  When I said that he was proving that he didn't sell hot dogs with buns, I got that 'husband look'.  

Honest.....This is a true story.  Not one bit was fabricated.  The owner is very nice and speaks excellent English with a accent.  This is my closest store and gas.  5 miles from the house. Their prices are good.  The gas, just a cent different than in town.  The store is extremely neat and clean, well stocked and the window smashing and death threats doesn't seem to bother them.  The owners even planted 50 or 60 rosebushes, which the deer ate in one night.  Life's interesting,isn't it?  A story everywhere."

Yes. I will miss you and your stories, Laura.

[Jeff]

This is truly sad news. I am shocked and very sad to hear she passed. Her stories were always wonderful to read, she was one of the reasons I kept the site going, so she could have something to read.

[Rochelle]

She appreciated this site, I know, and did read often. I know Ellie sent her some personal messages which were much appreciated as well. I think she was 79. In the past 5 years she went to the weddings of two grandsons, and saw 4 or 5 great grandbabies including a set or two of twins.

[the old gray mare]

I do remember Laura, so sorry for you to have lost a friend. I am going to picture her re-united with her husband in heaven.

[Rochelle]

I am too-- in fact , with both of her former husbands.

Laura was first widowed when she was around 50.  After some convincing from the man who had helped her so much through that ordeal, (he was also her husband's best friend,) she married him.  Her children-- from her first marriage-- also loved their stepdad.

 She often mentioned that she was so very lucky to have had two very wonderful men in her life, when some women have trouble finding even one. I'm sure it would be a happy reunion for all three of them.

[Hotrock]

Rest peacefully Laura. May your God smile upon your soul. X X X

[EllieT]

Sad, sad news... I corresponded with Laura through e-mail last year and she updated me as to her condition and what was happening in her life. She was an inspiration in as far as dealing with adversity and illness. She's at peace and most likely reading our messages.

Ellie

[Jeff]

Just as a little side note, I will leave all her posts and her account active. She didn't post too often, which is understandable considering what she was facing and enduring. Feel free to check out her profile and her posts. I think it's the least I can do for her.

Jeff

[Moliz]

Oh dear heavens. That is so unbelievably sad. I know I will miss her terribly. She was such an inspiration and always cheered us up when she was suffering so. Now, the tears come.

God has blessed her. I know he has because of the way she lived her life and fought her battle.

Good night, sweet Laura. Oh, I'm really going to miss her.

Jeff, that is a wonderful thing to do and hopefully it will remind us of her generous and loving nature when we re-read her posts.

[Shanda]

I am sorry to hear this, Rochelle. It is always sad to lose a friend like this.

Shanda

[sharky]

Didn't Laura make a brief comeback not so long back?
I'm sure she did, very well written and funny lady, sorry to hear she is gone.


James.

[Jeff]

Yes, she did make a brief comeback and mentioned she got a good thrill by reading the forums.

[Sir Breakfast]

It will be beaut to have the works of the lovely Laura - yes! I too remember her and this way, her memory remains tangible.
Sleep well, Laura - and yes, you are in great company.