life is interesting. i got together with my high school girlfriends over the weekend--six of us from way back when. we were talking a lot about "blips." moments that seem so huge in our lives, but after time they are just blips on the radar screen. some of our blips included boyfriends, accidents, depression, marriages, joblessness, hopelessness...they all seem like nothing now. just blips in life, little speed bumps that we really have to just get over if we want to keep on driving. but all those blips kind of pile up to make us the people that we are. i'd say the women with the most blips back then have the strongest characters now. which just means that God knows what He's doing, even when it seems like he's being kinda mean.

and that brings me to karen. she definitely wins the award for the most blips. she's always been very headstrong, smart, beautiful and she was always the most rebellious. the most apt to speak her mind and stand her ground. she was MY backbone...the one who called my work one saturday morning, said she was me and quit the crappy job.

watching her this weekend, it all made so much sense. all of the life lessons she has gone through have turned her into the most amazing woman i know. i am certain that any of us would do what she is doing, but i'm not certain any of us would do it with the same strength, compassion and grace. she is pouring it all out on her mom, and i can tell that her mom feels it. i can tell that her mom is so proud of her daughter. i was only there for a few hours, but i know my life is better for it. i feel very honored that i was able to be there. i'm so glad i was able to say goodbye this way. my friend bobbi went with me, and karen's mom said something as we were leaving. i don't think it's a statement i'll ever forget.

she said, "well, i'll either see you again here or there."

it's becominig easier and easier to see that this life is just a blip. the real living begins when we get there.