#96 Don't Like Facebook Jolts

I actually do like the FB notifications that remind me of birthdays. It's so easy to send a greeting and it's a treat being at the receiving end.  But today I spotted a reminder for a FB friend, who is no longer with us.  I had to catch my breath when I was reminded, to wish Janet a Happy Birthday.

When We Met

I met Janet when her daughter was in my Magic Quilt Class.  I soon got to know Janet's sister, when we were on the same tennis team.  Janet and I didn't see each other often, but during these recent months, she has been on my mind constantly. Not because she lost her fight with cancer, but how she handled her fight. 

At The Store

I'll never forget the day I bumped into Janet at the grocery store and she shared her news of breast cancer. She had learned very recently and her attitude was sincerely upbeat.  I was stunned by her honesty.  She just wanted to get that news out there, so no one would be uncomfortable with learning the secret through the grapevine.  When I learned my own news, I couldn't get that encounter memory out of my mind. I had been blown away by Janet's brave spirit then, and I was determined to learn from it.

Over Time

Janet's fight with breast cancer was just the beginning.  I'm not even sure how long her good periods were, but even when she was back to battling, she showed up at the tennis court to watch our team play. She chatted and laughed with her dog at her side. I marveled at how she put us all at ease. 

Facebook

So this morning, I clicked on Janet's name and I saw her profile picture from a few years ago.  She was laughing with her husband, revealing her perfectly smooth head. Instead of feeling nervous that I was confronting the fact that we all don't survive breast cancer... I was reminded that she lived those difficult years with lots of fight AND tons of joy.  

I sent Janet a FB message and it didn't feel strange. I knew her family was celebrating her on this day, but I wanted her to know that many who didn't know her that well, were also honoring her.  I wish I could have told her in person how much I admired her. What a silly way to do it, with Facebook.  But oddly, it didn't feel silly when I clicked "Post".  I have a feeling Janet got the message!