virginia was one of my mother's close friends. they were co-workers at the office and self-described 'cancer-buddies', having been diagnosed with their initial bouts with breast cancer about 12 years ago, and sharing an equal number of recurrences over the subsequent years. virginia was also my boss at one of my first 'real ' summer jobs, overseeing my work as a clerk at the special ed testing clinic i worked for. she was firm and resolute, yet flaky, disorganized, and an optimist. she was dedicated to betterment - not only of her immediate surroundings but of the world as a whole. she fought hard for children and their general welfare and led others to do the same. she and my mother would make jokes together about wigs and chemo food cravings, giggling and murmuring together in a private and sacred clique of two.

my mother called me sunday night to tell me that morning virginia has passed away that morning. while mommy is currently in somewhat of a holding pattern of 4 weeks on chemotheraphy followed my four weeks off, virginia's decline over the past year had been steady. at one point, sick of the nausea and aches and heaches of treatment, she took herself off all medicines and procedures, against all doctors' orders. i can't get that thought out of my head; the action personified her existence. she made up her mind, wanted to feel better immediately, and went for it, all else be damned. the resolute nature that occocasionally frustrated me so much as an employee made her a pillar of somewhat untraditional strength.

her funeral service is tonight.