Do they have cake in heaven?

Every time I see a butterfly it reminds me of you, of your smile and of your joy. Sometimes I'm overcome with sadness and sometimes I simply smile. You touched lives, my dear. And, your absence is felt by many. My heart aches to hear your voice. I miss the phone calls where you would sing to me, where you would share in day's events and you showed me you cared. I miss your singing. It didn't matter where you were; you used music as your way to connect to people. I still laugh when I think about the time we were trying to relate to inner city Chicago kids and you started singing, "I whip my hair back and forth." To me you seemed fearless. Oh, I know you had your moments and you would tell me otherwise but I always admired your boldness.


I miss the way you would force me to listen to your latest favorite tune. We'd go for a drive and you'd say, "Oh my gosh, Dana, you have got to hear this!" I miss seeing you in that little red toyota. You know, the one that had a backseat filled with CDs, clothes, and other random things; I can almost hear it's sound now. It breaks my heart to know that you're never going to pull up my street and pick me up, that we'll never go on another road trip. I miss our girl nights, concocting interesting drinks and talking late into the night. A few weeks ago when I said goodbye to my old house I sobbed because I knew we wouldn't be able to make new memories together in my new house.


I miss the way you would call me out on stuff. You got straight to the point and it was often exactly what I needed to hear. You're the friend that would call me at 2am to tell me about the night you just had or if you had a "crazy" story to tell me, and you had quite a few of those. And, if I ever needed you in the middle of the night you were the one I would turn to. You were the sister I never had and always wanted. My kids were supposed to call you Aunt Christine. We were supposed to grow old together and be those crazy old ladies that know far too much about the other and love each other anyway.


I am so thankful for the 13 years of friendship we shared. We were pretty much instantly friends. You kept my secrets and I kept yours. You loved my family and I loved yours. You loved me in spite of my flaws and I did too. I didn't realize true friendship was so hard to come by, but now that you're gone I know that the cliche is true.


So, tell me, do they have cake in heaven? Have a piece for me. Happy day of your birth, my darling Christine. I miss you more than I can even express.

All my love,
Dana