[Still BLUTANG]

Thank you for asking.

We're still dealing with her mother's death, but my friend is doing so much better. I think the weekend that I wrote that post, another friend and I just showed up on her doorstep, said get dressed and get out of this house. She knows we will not hesitate to show up and show out. This was about a year ago.

She has been to counseling and is finding ways to work through her grief. I am so glad that she was able to speak with a professional about everything. There is NO SHAME in seeking help. I think for a while she was fighting that battle because she didnt want to ask for help, neither did she want to accept the help that was being offered. We just had to be there (many sleepless nights) until she got to the point where she realized it was o.k. to not go through it alone.

Some days she's optimistic and making plans for the future... other days are o.k. at best. Holidays, birthdays, and other special days we remember are rough but she's holding on strong. She is back at work and has even picked up her involvement in Girl Scouts and is a troop leader. She has a web of support and i think between her cousins, her friends, and her colleagues we all will catch any signs that something is out of the ordinary and address it head on.