I don't know when this is going to stop. But I am asking if you could say
prayers for my friend Ruthie, to pass comfortably.

I just got a letter today from my adopted mom that Ruthie is in the final
stages of Cancer. They have her so sedated that they can't even keep her
awake to feed her. I hope she goes peacefully in her sleep.

She has fought the good fight and now is not able to fight it anymore.
She had breast, then bone, then brain, then hip cancer, and now it is in her
blood.

She was such a sweetie. I used to go over to her house and we would make
candles. All kinds from molds. My favorite was a black puppy. I wish I still
had it but of course when I got shipped out here to CA, I did not get it
sent to me. We used to play board games together all the time.

This was by the way when I was 16 and 17 before I got shipped out here. She
was probably in her 40's then. I loved her so much. I still do. We kept in
touch over the years. She said me a game like Monopoly only it was from our
hometown. She sent this about 3 yrs ago to me.

She and Betty my adopted mom helped me so much during the loss of my mom
when I was 17. Betty and Ruthie were always there for me.

Ruthie, being the kind caring person she was, let me come over to take
showers in their basement. We didn't have a shower and the kids at school
would make fun of me because of the outhouse. They would call me nasty names
because they said I was stinky. I wasn't, I still bathed in a tub. But you
know how kids can be. But Ruthie understood and let me come over to take
showers.

Ruthie and Betty became moms to me. I was so blessed. I still am.

Thank you and sorry I went on about this.

It has been a hard month and a half. First losing Mitzi on the 9th, then
Anne on the 4th, didn't know till about a week later. Then Carol being
missing and no word from her, (New Orleans victim), it has been something
else. Also don't know how much longer my brother will be around. The COPD
seems to be getting worse. Plus a couple of other close friends might have
cancer, still awaiting the news. It never seems to end. Too many too close
together in a short period of time.

Thank you all, I need to say I love you and care deeply about my friends.
Know that you are always in my hearts and thoughts. Once we began
communicating, you have always had a special place in my heart. I just
wanted to tell you that, as we don't know what tomorrow holds and I don't
tell you all enough.