Six years ago today, my sister Mary died of cancer. It invaded her entire body. She would call me every night around 10 pm to talk. We grew up less than a year apart, but not so close after being grown. The talks at night were emotional because she realized she was dying and was very frightened. I listened most of the time and spoke very little. She told me she wanted desperately to have one more Christmas and that she would have some special treatment that may give her some more time. I already knew that was told to her only to make her feel better, and her time was over. I mentioned to her that she had believed in God all her life and that this belief was what she needed at this moment in time.

These talks would always lead to our youth and how she would have to protect me from our father. The lunch monies when we were lucky enough to have my sisters would give to me to gamble throwing coins to a line or playing marbles. How Mary was cross eyed and was picked on causing many fights. I listen until she dosed off to sleep.This went on for over a month. I could feel her death arriving each night; nothing I could do was an emotional roller coaster in my mind, which I have always been able to fix.

To my sister Mary Boyanton, Rest In Peace love always