Sheila has earned her wings

[chrisy]

I received a message this morning I wanted to share with you.

Like Sheila did, I have been getting up and leaving in the predawn hours for the 75 mile drive for chemo (mine is at UCSF) for years.

This morning on my way out I walked into the driveway to get the paper. It was cold and clear and of course very dark. I couldn't pick up the paper because, when I looked down, I saw that I was standing on it! When I finally figured out how to get my foot off the newspaper (ok, I don't drink coffee before the 1 1/2 hour drive). I grabbed it and stood up to see the brightest shooting star I had ever seen. Usually I wonder if I had imagined seeing it...but not this time. It soared brightly and almost purposefully for what seemed like several seconds and covered at least four inches of looking-at-the-sky distance. Doesn't sound like much when I say it like that, but it was a long way.

My mouth dropped open and I actually gasped when I saw it. Then unbidden, two words burst from my mouth all alone out in the driveway: THANKYOU. and SHEILA.

Here in the infusion room 5 hours later it sounds sort of WOO WOO and a bit Santa Cruz-y. But that's exactly what happened.

I love Sheila like a sister and will miss her dearly...but now I will always think of her soaring across the early morning sky. And somehow tricking me into stepping on the newspaper so I would look up at just the right moment to see it.