My husband and I talked with her on the phone the day before she fell ill and she was so excited to be getting her second hip replaced that Tuesday. Mary had so many plans: to come visit our "farm" and walk around the property instead of riding her scooter; to wear her new summer sandals; to go thrift store shopping with me... She told Tom and I that she loved us. The next time we saw her she may not have been able to hear us, but we told her again how much we loved her. I'm grateful that we had the chance to say good-bye, something I didn't get a chance to say to my brother years ago, but it doesn't ease the sense of loss. She was wonderful to me and I considered her one of my closest friends. It breaks my heart.