Things I Will Remember About Marilyn

She kept the quilt I made her in her front room.

She squealed when I photoshopped her double chins out for her badge portrait.

She had her granny pray for me.

She sat me down once and told me I was her hero.

She wouldn't have known decent design if it bit her on the ass; she *knew* that about herself.

She loved her work, her life.

She loved my peanut butter fudge, Bell's tuna salad, and ice cream.

She loved her dogs, her family, her husband.

She loved swimming with the dolphins, tank tops from WalMart, and Journey.

I'm sorry, Miss Thang, that the cancer won. Sometimes willpower isn't enough. If it was... Well, you know, huh? Things would be different. I pray the end went easy. Lots of folks will miss your face. My soul aches for Tony and your momma.

Lots of us will.