Our Special Friend, Barb

Today is a sad day. I went to the hospital to say goodbye to a very dear friend, Barb. Recently, she developed double pneumonia, and it was just too much for her body to handle.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer about 3 years before I was. She was such a big help to me when I was going through my chemo and radiation. We both had Kaiser insurance so we could relate to our treatments and our doctors. She was always calling to see how I was doing.

She was one of the gals in "The Lunch Bunch." The group started when all of us worked at Hillsboro High School. We ate lunch together and had the most fun. We laughed and cried together. We talked about anything and everything. Sometimes, even our principal, Phil , would join us. He always treated us with such respect.

When Barb had her breast cancer, Karen, one of "The Lunch Bunch" gals, decided we should walk the Hood to Coast for her. We had so much fun and even though Barb couldn't participate in the walk, she was there with us, in spirit. She met us along the way to cheer us on.

Another thing we did for Barb when she was battling her breast cancer, we rented a stretch limo and drove around Portland and looked at the Christmas lights. It lifted her spirits.

When Barb turned 61, she mentioned that she had never had a birthday party. So "The Lunch Bunch" decided to give her a 16th birthday party. We gave her gifts like a teenager would receive. She especially loved the padded bra that Karen gave her and the note she wrote (like a teenager would write) and talked about Shirley hanging around the boys in her rally uniform, Amy always being in the vice Principal's office, some of the gals going to get a blouse with their initials on it, like they saw in the "17" magazine, and Betsy going to detention again. We all laughed so hard. It was a very special time for Barb and all of us.

Barb will be missed. "The Lunch Bunch" has lost one of it's best. But we are all strong and like I said, we have all cried together before.

We all love you, Barb.