Shoulda Coulda Woulda

It seems like time flies by so fast

and there is so much  that I take for granted

things that I put off until tomorrow

not thinking that tomorrow may be too late

I used to be pretty good at just doing it

going out there and doing it at the time

but I think living with

Mr. whydoittodaywhenyoucanputitoffuntiltomorrow

has rubbed off on me a bit

I used to always seemed to know when a visit or phone call

was in order

a keen sense but unfortunately that did not happen for me this time...

at the tender age of 17 I went to work part time

at a department store

I worked my way up the ladder ~ became a supervisor

and then a manager in my 17 year career with them

being always one of the "young ones"

plopped into the Bedding & Drapery department

I was surrounded with a group of women

my other mothers that taught me so much

there are not many of them left

old age took some

diseases like the dreaded "c" word took others

too soon ~ way too soon

an offshoot of the drapery department

was our "Shop at Home"

custom made blinds and draperies

and we did a booming business

with a sales person on the road, an installer

and 2 of us in the office to keep the orders flowing

Phyllis and I became close

she treated me like a daughter

we shared secrets, hopes and dreams

 and on Friday nights

a beer or two at the local tavern

they were the best of times.

We kept in contact ~ not see you once a month close

but dwindled down to once a year

and then cards ~ she never ever forgot my birthday...

every Christmas I would set her card aside saying

I am going to hand deliver it this year

then life happened ~ I got busy

and dropped it in the mail ~ always with the promise

that I will see you soon

it's been 4 years since I hand delivered her card

and now it breaks my heart in 2

I will see her tomorrow for the last time

amidst her family and friends

and I will say goodbye to a special lady

who will live in my heart forever.

xo