We met and became friends because we were the only new girls at Nimitz Junior High school in Tulsa in the fall of 1972. We went to different high schools but we were already best friends. We went off to OSU together the summer of 1976 and were roommates. She was absolutely gorgeous with wonderful long hair. (Stole this from Facebook -- thanks to whoever posted it).
A few years ago, she was going to be alone on New Years Eve. I talked her into flying to Dallas and staying with us for a couple days. We had one of our low-key New Years Eve parties where we wore hats and played Apples to Apples. She had so much fun. I'm not sure that there was a lot of fun in her adult life.
She was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when she was in her 20's. That helped explain some of her behavior. I don't think living in Alaska where it is dark in the winter helped her.
Many years ago, her mother had a stroke. Susie wasn't her primary caregiver, but she had to fight with a step brother to make sure the bills were paid. She had to make sure that they had the right caregivers present. Then her husband had health issues and she took care of him too. Then he had a heart attack and she went back to Alaska to be with him. He had a car accident recently driving from Arizona to Alaska. I think Susie was just done taking care of people. Someone needed to take care of her. However, her cousin and her sister tried. Susie could be stubborn. Also she didn't want to bother anyone. So due to all that and more, Susie decided that she was done with life. On Nov 8, she was just DONE and she took her life.
Oh Susie, I will cherish that last postcard that I got from you. I wish you knew how many people loved you. I wish you didn't have Bipolar Disorder which lied to you about how wonderful you are. I wish I had sent you a postcard after I got the last one. I wish I could talk to you again and that you could come again to one of my New Years Eve parties.
