Saturday, November 25, 2023
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Sheila was my cousin.
Your cousins are your first friends outside of your family. And that's the thing...they are NOT your sisters; they're way cooler.
The idea of Sheila being gone is difficult to grasp. It seems as if I had known Sheila forever. As kids I thought we lived hundreds of miles apart…at least that’s how it seemed when we were driving there, sitting in the backseat with the wind in our young faces. We were going to Arlington Heights, where the heck was that? In my family I was the luckiest sister because I had two cousins my age. As I got older my parents would let me stay out in Arlington Heights for a week in the summer. Such fun we had! Going to Randhurst Shopping Center, the Cock Robin Drive in and the big outdoor pool with the high dive. Always returning exhausted, sunburned and hungry and with the limitless energy, of children, ready to go again!
A little later, when I had my own car, I would visit for a few days and those days were great, too. As I said before...I can’t remember when we weren’t friend as well as cousins.
Sheila started her family and moved here to Texas. Also very far away. I couldn’t wait to visit her and Aunt Adele with their stories of their sunny days, wonderful sandy beaches, and the intrigue of Mexico right around the corner. We shared many dinners at El Chuleton in Matamoros after a full day of shopping at Garcias bringing back great memories and a lot of things we didn't need.
As time went on, Sheila and I began to take our adventures to greater heights. Cruises were our delight. We wanted to see it all and do it all! And we did a lot. Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and most recently last July, we went to Alaska. As we prepared for our trip I had said to Sheila, everyone should see Alaska before they die.
Who knew?
Sheila loved to travel and was a wonderful travel partner. We had two more cruises planned but as you know we make plans and God laughs. As Buddha teaches us, the trouble is you think you have time.
Sheila had a way of making you feel like a million dollars and she enjoyed experiences like they were designed just for her. She had a ready laugh, talked to everyone, and always quick to lend a helping hand or offer moral support. She lived life to the fullest and never judged. When Sheila was confronted with situations that would confound most people she often said, “You don’t choose a life….you live a life."
With that philosophy deeply ingrained within her she could be the Sheila we all loved.
As I said earlier, Sheila was my cousin and my friend...I’ll miss her.
