The Old Man's Friend?

My old friend Anna is begging for a new post.  But I haven't felt like anything enlightening has fallen upon me in the past 2 days.  Sitting here in an absent-minded state I concluded that my mind is just "blogged" right now.  I thought the large pine in our back yard snapping in half (but thankfully missing our house) was the most important concern in my life right now.  Thankfully I came out of that selfish blunder and realized that is just a silly ole occurrence that can be fixed. 

The fact that it can be fixed almost makes me nauseous. There are so many other things I would like to be fixed first.If I was given this super-power, I like to think the first thing I would "fix" is my dear co-worker & friend, Paula. 

Paula has such a bright personality, a smile that has never faltered, a glass half full, and a witty sense of humor.  All of these traits still remain 110% true even though her battle with cancer nears the end.  Battle isn't even the right word and doesn't do her justice, it has been more of a war.  The cancer has been hell on wheels from day one of its arrival.  I truly believe most would have waived their flag two years ago.  But not our little pit bull Paula, who is all of 5' tall and maybe 100 lbs when wet.  She has held on tight and I know deep within, that Paula's magnanimous love for everyone else (but herself) is why she has fought so relentlessly for so long.

Last night, I dreaded the news of Paula's pneumonia.  None of us will admit it out loud, but we all know to ourselves that pneumonia is an almost impossible fight for the weak and an omen we fight to ignore.  However, an email from my mama this morning made everything better.  (Well, not everything better, but you know what I mean.  And how is that mom's can turn any scramble into sunny side up?)  Anyways, her email was short and sweet and stated: "I'm sorry -- Jimmy (her husband/doctor) said pneumonia is called the old person's friend, or in this case, a younger, sick person's friend..."  I of course googled this reference since I had never heard such.  I found that, in deed, it is usally referred to as "The Old Man's Friend".  After researching, I learned that pneumonia, though often dreaded, is in fact a blessing in disguise to those who are ready to begin their eternal life.   Apparently, one who is suffering will lapse into a state of reduced consciousness, not really feeling any pain, and will leave us peacefully in their sleep.

Once I had exhausted every search engine, my morning seemed to turn around.  Knowing that my dear Paula can finally get some peaceful rest in her last days on earth (should that be the case) makes me happy and at ease.  If nothing else, she at least deserves one last good nap after this treacherous battle royal.  

I hope we all will find peace knowing there is a disguised friend (name: Pneumonia) with her and others in similar situations, helping each along their way.  In God's time, she will be with Him as her beautiful, healthy, funny self again.  I certainly hope the heavens are ready because they got a little firecracker headed their way!

This story goes to show that good can be found in all things bad.

Paula with her son, Will