This is a post that I really don’t know how to write. The last round of ROW80 was hijacked by fate when my mom had a heart attack and I had to help her out a lot. I thought that was the worst that could happen to me for awhile. Not so. At 2:00 am this morning, I got a call from my best friend’s husband. Calls at that time of morning are never good. He told me that she had passed away. My friend of 38 years was gone, just like that. She was the same age as me.
The question is…can I go on with my WIP? The answer to that is yes. Why? Because she would want me to. She would never want me to abandon my writing to sit around and grieve over her. I’ll do a lot of grieving, there’s no question of that. Right now I feel like a heavy weight is on my chest and I can barely breathe. I don’t know when the dam will break and the crying will start. I hope it doesn’t happen at church this morning, because I don’t like public displays like that. But my church family would understand.
I would ask that you all send to her family and mine prayers if you pray and good thoughts if you don’t. She was the wife of an author friend that some of you might know, but I don’t know if he’s ready to make that public yet. I would ask special prayers and thoughts for him.
To all of you that are doing ROW80, I hope that you’re doing well…and I’m still there with you.
lauralynnelliott.com 
Oh honey. {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}
There are no words, Kait. I feel like my world has been ripped apart.
So sorry. My sympathies to you and her family.
Thank you so much, Cathryn.
So sorry about your friend. I know she’s more like your sister than a friend. She will be greatly missed. I know I will miss her too. Sending prayers and hugs your way.
Thanks, Anya. We were definitely like sisters. It hurts, and it will take a lot time to not feel this way.
This is not a good day. I know she loved you so much and you were her best friend. And yes, she’d hate it if you stopped writing or dropped the ball over this. I’ll see you soon and we can cry on each others shoulders some more about her. You know I’ll miss her more than I’ll ever be able to explain. Love you and thank you again for everything.
Peace.
I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling. If I feel this way, I know it’s many times multiplied for you. I didn’t know if I should tell it was your wife, but now I know it’s ok. Hang in there until we see each other. Then we can fall apart if we have to.
Oh, Lauralynn, I am so, so sorry. Words can’t even say how much. I also have a relationship like that with my best friend, and I can’t imagine how devastated I would be to lose her. You and your friend’s family are in my prayers. Many hugs to you…..
Amy
Amy, when we were younger, we always had this joke about how we were “Jethro” (from the Beverly Hillbillies) because we were always hungry. So we were each half of Jethro. It feels like half of me is gone. Anyone who has a friend like that, knows what I’m going through. Thanks for the prayers and hugs.
I feel so awful for you and I agree that you shouldn’t stop writing. When a good friend of mine took his life, I stopped writing and I never really dealt with the grief until I began writing again so please don’t stop. There’s lots of things I want to say but I don’t think any of them will make you feel less devastated so I’ll just say we’re all thinking of you and here for you.
Thank you Claire. You understand the grief. It’s almost like there’s so much to say and yet nothing TO say. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but that’s kind of how it feels.
{{hugs}} So sorry. My thoughts go out to you and her family.
Thanks for the good thoughts, Sherri. It helps to know people care.
Oh, Lauralynn. I’m so, so sorry to hear this. My heart aches for you, your friend, and her husband. I can’t imagine how you must feel right now, but I agree that you shouldn’t stop writing. Not only would your BFF not want you to do that, but it will probably help you work through your pain. We are all here for you. *hugs*
Thank you Claire! I think writing will help. I feel so blessed to have so many author friends.
I’m so sorry. I’ll be thinking about you.
Thanks, Stacey. That means a lot.
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss Lauralynn. Good on you though for not letting it stop you from writing, as that can be very therapeutic.
I’ll be thinking good thoughts in your direction.
Thank you S. J. I appreciate the good thoughts.
I am so very sorry. Sending thoughts your way. Try not to be alone too often; surround yourself with good, supportive people. Keep writing, keep physically active. Get sleep.
It’s amazing how the simple things, the most important things, are often the hardest to do at a time like this. Hug.
Thanks, Belinda, that all sounds like good advice. I have very supportive friends and family. It’s hard to be physically active because I feel so numb and lethargic. But I know it’s important and I’m going to try to do it.
That is just awful and unexpected. I know what you mean about those early in the morning calls. After my grandma died, I jumped every time I got a call from someone in my family that was at an odd hour.
So so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Kate. This was so totally unexpected. She passed out a couple of times Friday morning, then went to the hospital. Early Sunday morning, she was gone.
I’m so sorry for your and your friend’s loss, Lauralynn. I know you don’t know me, but I’m sending positive thoughts to you and your friend.
Take care.
Thank you so much, Milli. I appreciate your thoughts for us
You have my heartfelt condolences. I can feel my own eyes getting watery just knowing how you and her family are feeling right now. I lost one of my best friends to cancer a couple of years ago, and I still can’t believe she’s gone. I’m sending good thoughts your way…
Thank you so much, Michelle. We are all so shocked and devastated. She had beaten breast cancer about five years ago, and we just couldn’t believe she was taken by a blood clot. It was so sudden.
so sorry to hear and yes my thoughts are with you – it’s the thing I dread most that my best friend will go
Thank you, Alberta. I thought we had years. I never dreamed this would happen.
Thank you all for your kind words. She was a great wife and super friend, we were that before we fell in love. For 28 years I had the blessing of her being my wife. It’s going to be a long row to hoe for a while but we will get through it, we’ll just have a hole in our hearts where she was.
Thank you Lauralynn for your kindness and support. I’ll see you Friday. I look forward to reading what you write next, I always do.
Peace.
Jon, we are going to be grieving for a long time. I’m still kind of in denial and the dam hasn’t broken just yet. It’s right there on the verge. But we HAVE to keep writing. I think it will be therapeutic to lose ourselves in a different world for awhile.
You’re in my prayers, Jonathan. Let me know if there is anything I can do. We will all miss her.
*hugs* I’m so sorry for your loss. Take it one step, one hour, one day at a time. When the tears come, let them. It’s the only way. Celebrate her. She’ll live on in your hearts for all time. I know how hard it is to lose someone. Will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for your prayers, Robin. That’s what I told Jon…one day at a time. Last night, the tears came a little bit, but I kept holding them back. I’m almost scared to let go. I think the letting go will be when I see Jon. We live about 500 miles apart, so they’re having a service where they lived, then coming here to have another service for her.
I looked through some old pics of us last night, and it brought back such wonderful memories.
I’m so sorry, Lauralynn. I don’t know what to say other than to thank you for sharing this. It’s been a really hard spring in the South anyway, and then this happens to you. It’s hard to keep going with something that comes from inside of us like writing, but I think you’re really strong for moving forward with this and for being there for your friend’s husband. I’ll think of you, your family, and Jon and add you all to my prayers.
It has been a hard spring in the south, Vicki. I still see devastation every day on my way to work. I saw a U-Haul backing up to a house yesterday. That was sad to me, knowing those people were having to leave their home, probably because of so much damage to it.
I actually made my word count last night, so I’m keeping up with my writing so far. I think that’s what she would really want me to do.
Thank you so much for your prayers. I had a hard time deciding whether or not to share something like this on my blog, but the response has been so wonderful from all of you, that I’m really glad I did.
So sorry this happened, Lauralynn. Can’t really add much to what everyone else has said. You and your friend’s family are in my thoughts.
Thank you, Andrew. Those good thoughts mean a lot to me.
[…] around to visit your fellow ROWers and offer support. In particular, pop over and see sponsor Lauralynn Elliott, who recently lost her BFF of 38 years. Give her some ROW80 […]
My condolences to you and your friend’s husband and family. She sounds like a wonderful friend, and her good influence remains. Positive thoughts your way.
Thank you, CM. She was definitely a wonderful friend. We were together all the time when we were in school, and when she moved away a few years ago, we still talked all the time and visited when we could. I appreciate your good thoughts.
I have no words–I can’t even imagine the loss. Just hugs & hugs & hugs for you. 😉
Words are hard, Sharon. There’s no describing the loss. Hugs are much appreciated.
{{{hugs}}} My prayers are with you, your family, and your friend’s family.
Thank you, Melissa. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
There are no words, I know. So instead I send {HUGS}, prayers AND good karma thoughts. Write it out, girl.
Thank you, Cate! I need all of those things And I intend to keep writing!
I’m so very sorry for your and Jonathan’s loss. 😦
Thank you so much, Ghenet.
I’m so sorry to read about your best friend. I’ve known my best friend for 38 years also, and just reading your post made the tears flow at the thought of losing her. You’re in my thoughts.
Gabrielle, it’s really hard to explain how much you love a friend like that. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I am so sorry. I never had a BFF for anything even approaching 38 years. I can’t even imagine it but I can imagine that your friend would want you to keep writing, no matter what.
Claire, I can just imagine her looking down at me and giving me a hard time if I don’t keep writing. There will be days that I can’t write…I’ve already figured that out. But for the most part, I’m keeping up my word count fairly well.
Oh Lauralynn, I cannot even imagine what you are going through. I have lost friends, but never someone so very close to me. You and your best friend’s family are in my thoughts and prayers. I agree with the others…write your pain on the page and out of your heart, leaving only love behind. *hugs*
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jessica. And thank you for your prayers…they are much needed.