A friend …

Can I make a confession, here?

I’m shocked …

I’ve just had some bad news that an old friend I worked with, at The Essex Arms — way back in the day — has died, at 1 am BST.

This morning.

That has shocked and saddened me, even though I knew Sharon’s death had — from the understandably little her daughter, Kayleigh, wanted to tell me — been coming for a while.

Sharon had been — on and off — seriously ill, for some time.

But had contracted a seriously terminal form of cancer, at the end.

But if I know Sharon, she would’ve been the amazingly tough — and amazingly cheerful — woman she’d been throughout her life.

I think I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago.

I do know that, at the time I was told, I was stunned, shocked, devastated, what have you.

But right now I feel …

Well …

Well, I really don’t know, for sure.

Still deeply saddened.

I’ve lost a friend and former work-mate; one who’s company, humour, and opinions I valued.

But I’m also very aware that, while I’ve lost a friend, Kayleigh has lost a mother.

My thoughts are with Kayleigh, and with Colin, Sharon’s partner, who I’d not had the pleasure of meeting.

And I’m very aware that there’s little I can do, or say, that can ease the pain they are feeling, right now.

I can only hope …

And maybe pray, as well …

I do know they’ll have memories of a hard working woman with a perpetual smile.

Which is the best way to remember someone, I think.

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