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Welcome to 2THEHEART!
"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet
when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
Author Unknown
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Congratulations to our June Writer of the Month, Deborah Simmons, author of "Grandma and the General"! Deb has won $50, a special 2TheHeart award certificate, and her own page on 2theheart.com! Look for Deb's Writer of the Month page coming soon! Send her your congratulations!
Congratulations (again!) to Michael Powers, winner of the membership drive! Michael, who was March's Writer of the Month, has won $100 for referring oodles of new members to 2theheart. Dani D'angelo and Lou Ann Higgins came in second place and will each receive a six piece box of Dan's Chocolates!
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I'll Walk You Home
by Pamela Blaine
She was my very first friend and her name was Suzanne. I called her Suzy" and she called me "Pamy". We were two little girls spending our summer afternoons playing in the sunshine. We were also third cousins, born only three months apart. Our mothers sat us on a blanket together as babies and neither of us could remember life without the other.
Suzy lived on one side of our small town and I lived on the other which worked out to be about 7 blocks apart. We loved to spend time together and we would hurry to get our chores done and if it was Suzy's turn to come to my house, she would ask her mother, "May I go to Pamy's house?" If permission was granted, the next question was, "How many hours can I stay?" Three hours was usually the most we would get and to children that was a lot of time for laughter and make believe.
On sunny days we would climb trees, dress up our kittens in doll clothes, and have picnics complete with mud pies decorated with dandelions. On rainy days we would climb up in the hayloft and pretend to be in a ship on the ocean.
My brother had rigged up an old rusty wheel he had made to steer the ship just like we saw in the pirate movies. Our ship was complete with corncob bomb rigging. Other times we would sing and play songs on the piano or get Suzy's sister, Linda, to play "Here Comes the Bride" and we would take turns being the bride with and old lace tablecloth. Most of all I remember sharing secrets and all the giggling.
When we were told that our visiting time was over, the one being visited would walk the other home. I can still hear Suzy say, "Wait and I'll ask mother if I can walk you home." We had agreed on the halfway mark between her house and mine, which was St. Aloysius Church, but almost always we would be chattering away and she would end up walking me all the way home. I wouldn't want her to have to walk all the way back to her house alone so we would do it again, and only go as far as the church this time.
As we grew up, we did everything together. We got our first high heels together, wore our first lipstick together, and went to church and school together. When we dated, we usually doubled. If one of us didn't have a date, the other would try to find one for her.
As the years went by, one day the inevitable happened. Suzy was the first to get married and I was her maid of honor. It was like the end of an era, and afterward I went home and cried and sobbed for three hours. Somehow I knew, deep within my heart, that things would change - and they did.
Within a year, I was also married and we no longer lived close to each other. We kept in contact over the years through letters that became less frequent as children came into the picture and the busyness of life took up more time.
I visited her several times and we would laugh and have a wonderful time. She kept her home beautifully decorated because she was a very creative person. I often teased her that she could do anything with contact paper.
Years went by and my mother became ill and within weeks she died. I was at the funeral home the evening before the funeral when Suzanne came walking in and took my hand just like when we were kids ..holding hands with your fingers intertwining. She hugged me and let me cry and then began to lighten the moment by pointing out my blonde ringlets on the family picture gallery here in the funeral home. I went from tears to laughter since I didn't know the picture was there and swore to "find out" who put it there.
It meant a lot to me that Suzy was "there" for me. I knew that she had only recently lost her sister to cancer, the same sister who played the wedding march for us when we pretended to be brides.
The next time I saw Suzy was at our high school alumni party. We hung out together and had a wonderful time. We discovered that we both had computers and email. Thus began a whole new way of communicating again. We'd send email back and forth and I'd keep every word she sent me.
It was October, and I lived three states away when I got the email from Suzy. She said the back pain and problem she'd been having was bad news. I scanned down the email quickly and that stab of pain struck my heart as I saw the word "cancer." My mind reeled as I wanted to scream, "No," "Not Suzy!"
The next few weeks and months were a series of doctor visits, hospital stays, and chemotherapy. We talked on the phone and her concern was never for herself but for others and especially her two daughters. She told me, "Take care of yourself, Pamy" "Go see your doctor and make sure you are healthy." As Suzy got weaker, the emails dwindled as she wasn't able to sit for long. I would call her on the phone and she told me she was going home, there was nothing more they could do for her at the hospital and they told her she didn't have very much time. The last time I talked to Suzy was on Easter Sunday and she was too weak to say much but we said the important things. We told each other "I love you" one last time.
I like to think that Suzanne, who was always concerned about others, is up in heaven helping Jesus get our mansions ready for the rest of us. I don't think she'll need contact paper this time.
Before Suzy died, I wrote a song for her that she liked. It was about us growing up together. I called it "I'll Walk You Home." I sang it one last time for her at her funeral and this time...Jesus walked her home.
By Pamela R. Blaine
c April 28, 2000
(Below is the song that I had written for Suzy)
"I'll Walk You Home"
(1.) Can you come to my house?
How many hours can you play?
Did you ask your mother?
These are the words we'd always say.
You can play with Mary Ellen
She's your favorite doll, I know
We'll climb up in the hayloft
And play house before you go
(Chorus) Then I'll walk you home
So you don't have to walk alone.
I wish this time would never end
You know you'll always be my friend
Yes, I'll walk you home today
And I'll walk you all the way
Kindred spirits from the start
We're joined at the heart
Come, I'll walk you home.
(2.) Growing up together
Little girls just having fun
Mother earth in a mixing bowl
Baking cookies in the sun
Clover garlands for our hair
We sing every song we know
Ask Linda to play the wedding march
And we'll pretend before you go.
(chorus)
(3.) When our life is over
And our work on earth is done,
Then we'll trade that garland for a crown
For the Victory is Won!
We'll take the hand of Jesus
Crossing to the other side
There will be no more pretending
As He say, "Children, you are my bride."
(chorus) And I'll walk you home
So you don't have to walk alone
Now this time will never end
You know you'll always be my friend
Yes, I'll walk you home today
And I'll walk you all the way
Kindred Spirits from the start
We're joined at the heart
Come, I'll walk you home
c Pamela R. Blaine
November 1997
I've been married to Michael for 33 years and we have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. We live in West Virginia and part time in Missouri. I like to write stories and poems but I especially like writing songs. I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. One of my goals is to be able to write things for my children and grandchildren and also to be able to encourage and help other people. You can see some things I have written on
http://members.aol.com/mblaine/pamy/PamyPlace.htm
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The Letter Box:
Dear Sue,
I really enjoyed your story of Betty and her miraculous recovery. You certainly made a difference in her life, and your telling the story on 2TheHeart will make a difference to all those who read it. I hope to see more of your work soon.
Ronnie Bray, UK, 2theheart author
Dear Sue,
What a touching testament of friendship your story is! As a nurse, I am often saddened by my patients' circumstances, and you inspired me to make a difference. Thank you for reminding me why I became a nurse in the first place!
-Holly Truman, Pennsylvania
Dear 2theheart,
You couldn't have a more perfect slogan - Making a difference, one story at a time! Your stories do have an effect in the world, and every day you change lives with them. Sue Henley's story made a difference in at least one life. I have cancer and had lost hope. Her story gave hope back to me and I have committed to fight with everything I have and to give as generously as Betty did with each day God gives me. You made a difference in my life and I will now try to make a difference in other people's lives.
-W. Hill, SD
2theheart,
Like someone else who left a message on your wonderful website, I too have canceled all my newsletters except this one. They just don't compare. The people are so genuine and have such concern for others.
We are starting a writers group here in our town and I can't wait to share your website and newsletter with them!
Take care and God bless.
-Cheryl Norwood, 2theheart author
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