Bittersweet

Life has been full of bittersweet times,
today was no exception.
My friend Katie called to tell me,
her husband Bob had a stroke yesterday evening.

Katie and Bob introduced me and Lennie
thirty two years ago on a blind date.
They were sailors on the USS Farragut.
We were introduced a week before
Bob and Katie were married.
Love at first sight.
The minute I saw Len I knew and he the same.
We were married one month later.

Katie and Bob had two daughters and our families
have been close through out the years.

We haven't seen much of each other in the recent years.
We all tend to be so wrapped up in our own lives
but we always were a phone call away.

Bob and Katie never had the luxury of getting a home
of their own and have been in the same
apartment complex for over 25 years.
I swore if we ever got to win the lottery, or hit it big financially
I would surely make sure Kate got the home of her dreams.

Today I called two of our friends to tell them of Katie's
Bob having a stroke.

I asked both of them that maybe we could pull together to help
so Katie wouldn't worry about the rent for a month or two.

One friend that has great medical problem
with her daughter since birth,
her husband recently loss ed his job .
She said certainly she would try,
but it can't be much.

The other said she would make a dinner for her,
and would talk to her husband but
he may be losing his job in the near future.

I was a little broken hearted that in times like these
we are all still going through it.
I told my husband for my birthday
just help Katie out as much as we can.

Things come and go we can't take the stuff with us.
The thing I want I will never get.
I want an addition, a room for everyone
to have a space of their own.

We have our health, family what more could I want.

I just want my friend not to have to worry at this time.

Talking to Katie tonight after she came home from the hospital,
I had a smile back on.
Her oldest Melissa said that if the parents needed her
she would move in with Mike and the baby.
They would take care of them financially if they needed them to.

I have seen Katie do without to give for her children.
It was very heartwarming to see that come back full circle.

As for Bob, I am praying that his recovery is a speedy one.

For me this is a bittersweet moment in time.