For years Fran and I have called each other Clairee (her) and Weeza (me). She is Clairee because she is the pretty, put-together, Southern Belle and I am Weeza (actually spelled Ouiser in the movie) because I plan on being an old, crotchity woman who hates everyone =) We have signed emails, letters and birthday cards this way forever. Now she is battling cancer. Again. She is a breast cancer survivor, but now it's back and it's in her liver, spine, and lymphnodes. She was taking agressive chemo, but the side effects were kicking her ass and having no "good" affect. Since it wasn't doing any good they decided to stop and now it's just a waiting game as to when her liver will give out.

It's a whole different ballgame watching a grandparent go downhill (my grandma passed away a few months ago) and watching a best friend go downhill. She is my age, married to a great guy, has 2 daughters who are 4 aqnd 6, one of which is a special needs child. She is a sister, a daughter, a stepmom, a grandma, a friend, a church goer, a Navy vet, and one of the best people I know. The unfairness of it all is hard to comprehend.

While everyone else was out enjoying beer, BBQ's, and boating this Memorial Day weekend I was staying at her house trying to soak up every possible minute with her. All the while sharing her with 13 other people who were visiting and trying to spend time with her. I was sure we'd have to install a Take-a-Number machine outside her bedroom door. Everyone's heart is breaking.

All these years she was Clairee and I was Weeza. I'll probably still become Weeza with multiple husbands, ungrateful children and a dog who's hair is falling out, but how was I to know that in the end, even though she still embodies Clairee......she's actually Shelby.