remembering Carol

Today was my cousin Carol's birthday. She was a year and a half older than me and the closest thing to a sister I ever had. We grew up in the same small town and had lots of fun times together. She died of complications after surgery for lung cancer the same year that my husband and father died. Not a fun year. She buried two husbands, both of whom died of lung cancer and still couldn't quit smoking. It truly was addictive for her. But today I've been remembering the fun times: ice skating on the pond behind their house, which coincidentally was the house my grandfather built and in which my father grew up, writing silly stories together, making grass skirts and leis made of colored kleenex flowers. I hate to think how many boxes of kleenex we used up. The most exciting thing we did together was to come in to fort Wayne, in 1957 (her father brought us) to hear Elvis perform at the coliseum. I was in 7th grade, she was in 8th, and we were both convinced that he was singing only to us. Truly a sweet memory. Happy Birthday Carol.