138 ~ Two Good Friends

By Kay Heitsch

I kept plenty busy during the week. However, on the weekends, when Bill didn't get home, I enjoyed spending some time with my friends, Gary and Vicki.

I had known Vicki since we were 16, and we had become reacquainted when we moved back to Michigan.

Gary and Vicki lived on a lake near our home. I would hang out there a lot in the summer when Bill wasn't home. Living on the lake, they had toys for it.

I had fun on the kayak. Vicki thought it was funny that I wanted to wear a life jacket. On holidays, the lake had fireworks, so we went out on their pontoon to watch them.

Vicki and I walked a lot in the summer, and even in the winter, we walked on the frozen lake.

Unfortunately, Gary had to have a hip replacement. He had instructions on what he could or couldn't do. Those instructions fell on deaf ears, even though Vicki reminded him often.

One morning, Vicki called me in a panic. Gary's hip had come out of place. The ambulance was picking up Gary, and she wanted me to meet them at the hospital.

Gary was lying on the bed, and Vicki and I were standing on either side when the doctor walked into the room. The doctor looked at Vicki and me, then asked Gary who we were. Without blinking an eye, Gary introduced us as Vicki being his wife and me as his girlfriend. Vicki and I looked at each other, about to laugh, but didn't say a word.

Vicki and I knew what a hoot Gary was, but we were both a bit surprised when the doctor asked Gary what happened. Gary calmly said, You tell me, with these two. We were not expecting Gary to say this! The doctor didn't ask another question.

As we all know, life isn't always fun and games. We also shared the death of our sons.

It wasn't long after Vicki and Gary's son died that Vicki died too.

Enjoy the time you have with your family and friends. Life isn't always fair, but never forget God is always good.

Remember how I led you on this long journey. Deuteronomy 8:2