This is a story about the loss of my dear, and best friend Arlene Leona Crossen. She died on February 9, 2000 at 8:10 pm as I held her hand. We had been friends for almost 20 years. We raised our children together, shared our heartaches...and played Bingo. She was only 43 and left behind 3 beautiful daughters and scores of people who loved her.

Arlene had cancer and was told that they felt it had been metastizing inside of her body for more than a year (yet, no symptoms until the last 2-3 months). But by then it was far too late. When her left lung collapsed she was sent to the hospital (I work in this hospital), by her GP for a CT of her chest. At the time, her GP tried to reassure her and told her it was probably nothing too, too serious. Within a matter of hours they had found it everywhere they looked, and Arlene was diagnosed and gone within three weeks. She did not suffer terribly, her courage and her surrender, to this day, not only inspired me, but...left me with no fear of death.

When we found out her terminal diagnosis, I began my prayers in earnest. I asked the Lord to please allow me the gift of seeing Him take my best friend home. Well, as all prayers are answered, he granted me this wish. Ten minutes before her physical body left, as I held her hand to my forehead, with my eyes closed, in prayer...I saw the most exquisite blue-white wings wrap her in His beautiful love and lift her up to begin the journey home. An added gift...He allowed me the opportunity to look at her and say "goodbye my friend - I will always remember you. You were so loved."

I have not shared this experience with many because, as you know, a lot of people would think it crazy...you can't see things like that here! Ah, but yes, dear friends, you can - "Ask and it shall be given."

While I realize that in this physical world there is so much sorrow and heartache we experience with the loss of a loved one; it was a beautiful thing to witness. If you can call upon God's precious Love, the experience of witnessing a peaceful death, can be one of the most beautiful spiritual experiences one will ever know. I will always remember the beauty He showed me, I will forever remember Arlene's terrific sense of humour and her kindness. And I will miss her presence at Bingo too.

She helped many, many homeless and poor children and adults throughout her life. She had received many awards for her outstanding volunteer work in this area.

So, this is my tribute to and my remebrance of a friend I took for granted - and my only regret, as the human I am, is that I did not appreciate how important she had been in my life.

This piece was written for her the night before she died, and I could never show her because as long as there is life there is hope. I read it at her "Celebration of Her Life."

Farewell My Friend

Farewell to you, goodbye my friend,
Hardships you've known, you've seen.
And now you leave to rest with God
in His kingdom filled with dreams.

No more will you feel loneliness,
nor hurt within your life,
A whole new world, a spirit life;
A brand new, peaceful start.

He'll place your Love within His hands
and carry you through your pain;
And when you awaken by His side
you'll understand all things.

You'll watch over us from God's world
and whisper in our hearts,
How beautiful and forgiving
as he promised from the start.

And when I think about you
in my days upon this earth,
I'll remember that I learned from you
a true friend's sacred worth.

For Arlene Leona Crossen, October 14, 1957 - February 9, 2000
You are now among the angels, and you watch over those you love.