I will, as I have done every night since I learned you had left us, light a candle. I light it to remind me of your life and that your memory will never, ever dim. You and all your essence will remain as much a part of me as growing up in Clinton, stealing candy from Dodson’s Store, and wearing my first pair high heel shoes. You were there for all of those things and you will be missed my friend. You know you took a part of who I am with you. I’ll never get that back and I mourn the emptiness.
My sister, my friend, my pal, I will love you forever. We were the “Brame” girls. Quite often people thought we were sisters, and I guess we were in a sense. Your mother, my mother, Daddy and Uncle Leo, we were as close as we could be without coming from the same place. And, wasn’t it fun tricking those who didn’t know we really weren’t sisters. We had so many hopes and dreams. I can’t ever remember you not wanting to be a nurse (except the time we were going to be bigger and better than the Supremes). Just know I’ve always been in your corner as you were in mine. My cheering section just got a little smaller without you.
We had such good times together. I remember, like yesterday, running home from Jr. High because the bus was too slow, to watch American Bandstand or Hullabaloo; taking our lunch money and buying marshmallow flips, cherry cokes and a quarter’s worth of those stale cashews from Kreisler’s Drug. I remember singing together, riding that bicycle built for two, and almost being celebrities at school because of it. We had it going on didn’t we?
The last time we talked, you promised me that you were going to visit. I’m so glad we got to spend time together before you left, but there were so many things we didn’t get to talk about. We still had secrets between us; and, that (I promise) will never be shared with anyone else until I see you again.
I know you are not alone now. Freddie, John, Paul, Uncle Leo, Aunt Alice and so many others are all there waiting for your arrival. I know you will be as happy to see them as they will to see you. Just promise me you won’t forget about all of us here who love and miss you because we won’t forget you.
Take care my friend; I’ll see you at the stage door….
Love,
Janet

You and your family are in our prayers at this time of sorrow, from a dear friend to a dear friend, may God bless you and your family at this time of a dear loss and continue to look over and comfort you at this time and always. You and your family have our dear and deepest sympathy and love. The John. R. Brauer Family