Not her real name, but I do miss having her next door. She moved away years ago, to the east coast, too far away to run down and sit in the swing with her. We correspond, but it’s not the same. She was my guiding light when kiddo was born and helped me so much throughout his childhood. She always had sage advice when I needed it the most. She taught me how to make bread and how to be a better gardener. She taught me life lessons. She had stories about her life, creating a photography business, as well as an all-women’s car club. She is still an amazing baker. She is an outstanding quilter and sends me pictures of her beautiful needlework. She gives a lot of the quilts to the local charities where she now lives. She still gardens and the pictures she sends makes my yard look pitiful. She is such a strong woman and role model for me. I miss sitting in the swing and just talking about love, and hurt, and the world as we know it. We all need friends like her.

After my first book, when I created the Velma character, using her life skills and lessons, all she asked me after reading it was to give her more action! The third and final book shows off her talents in great depth. She is the glue that brings all of my characters together and she can bake and shoot at the bad guys like the rest of us!

So that’s what I believe we all need right now: Good friends that are there for you and are action-oriented (a statement I used on my first resume)! Good friends who stand up and do the right thing, helping those who love her and those who need her. Good friends who continue to work tirelessly throughout the years, even when body parts hurt. Good friends who help you limp along and tell you, “You can do it!” Good friends who are just there in spirit for you. I hope I am that kind of friend to my current friends and acquaintances. And I can only hope my advice and thoughts are sage reflections to give us a boost to where we need to go in our lives.

So to my message tonight is that take a breath, be thankful for the ones close to us, support each other through these troubled times, and just breathe. We can do anything as long as we are together! I send love and hugs to all who need it tonight!