Josie

She and I shared so many times I don't even know where to begin but I will tell you before her illness she was my best friend. I didn't meet her as a young woman. She was not my childhood friend. We met on the tennis courts.

Our friendship just evolved like so many friendships do. We hung out a few times. I thought she was out of my socio-economic group but she was a down to earth person. I don't know if Gina is attending her service but I remember when she told Josie, "you could drive my car." Gina was a young girl just starting off... not much money...two kids ....really struggling.  Josie on the other hand.......well, lets just say she wasn't hurting for too much.

We joined a team later on and that was the beginning of the Royals.

Captain, Me, Bill Gullickson, Lori and Josie

Back in the day we had lots and lots of  parties  and more than a few  had to have some sort of theme. No event was too small. A party was always needed.

 Josie and I became fast friends when our sons began  to "misbehave". We swapped war stories and played tennis like there was no tomorrow.





As our children grew so did our friendship. Our friendship was made of more than just our mutual love for  tennis and our children.

We shared a love for travel and adventure. We became travel buddies for the short trips that I could take. She was always ready to 'hit the road'. If I said "Josie, let's go." She would be ready in a flash. Our farthest trip was Germany. We spent a week there with friends. Some of our shorter trips included a week in West Virginia skiing, a week in San Francisco, a quick "save the children" trip to NC to pick up my grand girls, a week long visit from her and her hubby to our beach cottage and a few long weekend "girls only" trips for tennis.

 We shared a love for the books and history. . We could concoct the some pretty good  stories ourselves....together we were a pretty good team!

We loved to joke around.  There were times that we would be laughing so hard we'd really be rolling on the floor nearly (and yes a few times actually) peeing our pants. The silliest things could sometimes set us off and just looking at each other would send us into giggles again.

I remember the time she came to the courts with a nose ring in her nose. I was mortified. I wondered how I was going to keep her as my friend. She knew how I hated them. She continued the farce until we went out to lunch. At that time she was going to remove it so I would not be bothered. I started to yell "don't take it out" as the thought of watching her take it out was already making my stomach queasy..........then viola........it was a magnetic nose ring. I could have killed her..........we laughed and laughed and then I set the senerio for the party that was happening  that night. I got on the phone like any good Royal and started the grapevine gossip.........."OH MY GOD.....Josie got her nose pierced" I told everyone. The stage was set.......everyone tried to pretend they didn't notice cause I told them how proud of it Josie was. In the end Josie brought the attention to herself and started telling them how upset I was at lunch and how much she loved it. As she proceeded to ask people what they thought and they began to hem and haw, she came clean. Their expressions (as well as mine I suppose) were priceless. She had a good time with that practical joke.

We both loved to talk on the phone and would spend hour after hour talking about everything from raising children to the what really caused the Civil War. There were many afternoons that our husbands would come home and find us on the phone.

She felt giving back to the community was an obligation not a choice. She spent much time on her charities.

We would have hard core discussions about controversial subjects and our disagreements never led us out of friendship. She had a strong sense of  right and wrong. She was a stickler for etiquette. I think she must have had a Ms. Manners guide by her bedside.

I didn't visit her when she went to the nursing home the way I felt a friend should and if I had been the friend that was ill, I'm sure Josie would have visited me a lot more. I really couldn't bare to watch her deteriorate. I'm sure if she had had the least bit of her faculties in the end she would have forgiven me that.

We discussed what we wanted in life as well as in death and although I can't be there for her family at this time I know she would forgive me that too. What she wouldn't have forgiven me for would have been to not acknowledged that she really existed. She would have wanted me to let everyone know that she was a part of my world....that she made me smile.............that she made a difference in my life.

I loved her like my sister and I've missed her for a long time now.
 Her physical body is now gone but our memories will live on forever.

Christmas party at the Mango Tree. Josie center stage

The man of the hour

Always happy and full of fun.

Halloween at the Valentines

Wedding

I think we were singing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline

My 50th...sharing Josie's drink!

See that cheap ass pin? She gave that to me. I still have it. There's a story behind that too.

San Fran our last trip together.

 RIP Josie....I love you