For my Dear Friend Sharen

Cake Decorating is all about making memories.  Watching the recipients face light up when they see the cake that was made just for them.  There are many people who want to help make those memories.  They accomplish this by taking cake classes and it's a good thing they do, otherwise I would have no one to teach.  My friend Sharen had wanted to take classes.  Like many of us, time gets away from us and we are pulled in different directions and it just isn't possible.  When Sharen finally did have time to take the classes, she didn't have the strength.  Sharen had stage 4 colon cancer, and she was losing that battle.  Myself and a few other friends spent  a lot of time at Sharen's house those last few months.  She was very independent, yet she needed round the clock care.  She hated that we were hovering over her or babysitting her as she liked to say, but we were as stubborn as she was.  I finally told her that we weren't going away, but as long as I was there I would do what she wanted.  If she wanted to talk, we'd talk.  If she wanted to sleep I'd let her sleep. If she wanted me to leave her alone, I would sit in a corner and read a book but I wasn't going away.  I wanted to spend time with her and if she was having a good day we would do whatever she wanted.  She kept asking about my classes and when the next ones started, but I knew that she wasn't strong enough.  The next time I came to visit, I was armed with cake decorating supplies and a student book.  I stood in her kitchen and baked a cake and then I taught her how to decorate.  Sharen collected lighthouses, so when it was time to do the piping gel transfer I pulled out the lighthouse picture and her face lit up.  When her son, Thad, showed up, he joined in (he had a knack for it and I still think he should take classes!)      

Sharen learning how to do a Piping Gel Transfer.



Thad and Sharen with the completed cake.

I'm a better person for having known Sharen.  She was an awesome lady and I know that she is with my mother in heaven and they are giving St. Peter a run for his money.  Her time on this earth was too short but I was blessed enough to have known her,worked with her and to call her my friend and casino buddy {another story for another time ;) }  This week it will be one year since she passed away and in the words of Toby Keith,  "I'm gonna miss that smile, I'm gonna miss my friend.  Even though it hurts the way it ended, I'd do it all again."