Off and on, I have kept in touch with a couple of Nancy “La Cootina”‘s Hoodie friends. Nancy had “introduced” us via e-mail some time before she went into hospice. These friends, whom I shall refer to as K and MA, are the ones who informed me that Nancy had died, in fact (http://margaret.healthblogs.org/2010/05/04/well-the-news-is-out/).

Well, this morning I received a lovely lovely lovely message from K. Since I am 100% positive that other myeloma bloggers/Internet friends would like to read this update, too, I obtained permission to post some relevant parts:

“On numerous occasions, during the summer/fall of 2009, when MA and I would return to […], after taking Nancy’s little dog Molly for a hike in the woods, Nancy would tell us that she wanted to have a dinner to thank her “hoodie” friends. At about that same time period, as we all now know, her conventional cancer protocol was proving to be ineffective.  As a result, Nancy simply ran out of time and the strength it would take to plan and host a dinner for perhaps a dozen or more neighbors.
So, we lost our dear friend before we could gather again for a dinner at her house. Instead, her house stood empty when the hoodies gathered for a hoodie meal at X*’s house after we all launched our candles in honor of our departed friend, “Crankypants.”
About when Nancy’s home was sold, her brother, Marty, let us know that Nancy had left some money for a “Hoodie” Dinner. We planned a meal much like Nancy would have served. (Salmon, green beans, salad, oriental rice, rolls, fruit pies and wines.) We hired a caterer, sent out invitations and got X’s dining room ready.
Last night fourteen hoodies, Nancy’s mom, dad, sister and two nieces squeezed around one long table for Nancy’s “Hoodie” Dinner. Also present were canine friends Molly, Gracie and Harp.
It was noisy, it was fun and there were some tears but I’m sure most of us were happy that we had been touched, once again, by Nancy’s thoughtfulness.”

(*X is another Hoodie.)

Note: Nancy’s beloved dog, Molly, was adopted by K and MA and their other dogs and cats when Nancy’s health began declining. And I am happy to report that Molly is doing just fine now.

One last thing: I would like to thank K and MA publicly for keeping in touch with me and for having sent me a whole bunch of wonderful photos…photos of Molly…of the candle ceremony last year…and of this recent dinner in Nancy’s honor.

Ah, drat, there go the tears, again…