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The Beach Party

By Sue | August 22nd, 2013

My girlfriend wanted to go to the dunes this summer.

To walk the beach with family, to watch the gentle waves lap at the shore, to sip cocktails with the rest of the girlfriends while perched upon a striped beach towel with her toes digging into the sand, to laugh and reminisce and savor the dwindling summer hours before back-to-school consumed us all.

Like she does every summer.

A simple enough wish, yes?

But it was not to be this year.  For now, cancer is having its way with her lungs.  The wheelchair doesn’t traverse well over sandy shoals, the oxygen tank would be cumbersome to roll along the shores of Lake Michigan,  and the physicians frowned upon the idea of her being too far from home…or from a hospital, for that matter.

One of the girlfriends helped make light of the situation by pointing out that the Michigan Dunes were temporarily closed anyway due to a gaping sink hole.  We laughed half-heartedly at this strange twist of fate before once again furrowing our brows at the larger problem at hand.  The struggle that is wearing our dear friend out. The battle that has consumed our hearts and prayers for the past eighteen months.

But.

This is a creative group that I run with.

And sometimes a spark of creativity

Sand Bags

is all you need

Candle Centerpieces in Sand

 to turn hopelessless into a smile…

Tropical Fruit Salad

Flip Flop Nutter Butter Cookies

…or even into a laugh.

Sink Hole

Beach Party Decor

And so we brought the dunes to our dear friend a few days ago.  We laughed and reminisced and savored the dwindling hours of summer.

IMG_8054

And in my eyes?  It was every bit as lovely as the shores of Lake Michigan.

Linking with Shell and with Angie.

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Written by Sue

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Comments

  1. Allie says:
    August 22, 2013 at 6:09 am

    OMG! I got chills reading this. I hope my fiends would be as amazing as all of you!!! My mom died from ovarian cancer over 20 years ago so I definitely get it. This is such an amazing (and simple!) thing you all did. Wow. I’m overwhelmed.

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:34 pm

      Allie? SHE is amazing. Always has been the life of the party.

      Reply
  2. Mindy says:
    August 22, 2013 at 10:28 am

    Took my breath away. Friends are Earthly angels. I’m sure she loved it all!!!

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:35 pm

      Agreed, Mindy. From one angel to another. Different pools, same toes. xoxoxo

      Reply
  3. Suzanne says:
    August 22, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Beautiful, Sue. What an amazing group of friends you have and how appropriate that you are part of such a group.

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      I feel fortunate to be included among them, Suzanne. They are truly inspiring.

      Reply
  4. Michelle says:
    August 22, 2013 at 11:12 am

    This is so beautiful! You are an amazing friend! I wanted to cry reading it. I am sure she absolutely loved it. There truly is nothing like good friends.

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      This group is amazing. And yes…good friends are priceless, Michelle.

      Reply
  5. Ali Sue Kanouse says:
    August 22, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    Lovely, touching. You are a great friend! Sending best wishes and prayers…….

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      Thank you, Ali. So good to “see” you here! :)

      Reply
  6. angie says:
    August 22, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Two things:
    First: this party idea is brilliant. Second, the reason for this party ideas is absolutely beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 10:39 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Angie. Much appreciated. :)

      Reply
  7. catherine gacad says:
    August 22, 2013 at 10:51 pm

    So touching, you guys are amazing friends!!!

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 22, 2013 at 11:09 pm

      Yup. I pick the best of the best of the best, Catherine. :)

      Reply
  8. Sandra says:
    August 23, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Even better than Lake Michigan because nobody got swallowed up by a sink hole. You do run with a creative bunch. Love the sandal cookies! And prayers and love to your friend. Talk about spirit, Light, and laughter with your friend! I love her and clearly she is loved by many. May God bless you all (and your very fancy parties!)

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 23, 2013 at 11:23 am

      Thanks, friend. Today hurts, so I needed to hear that. :)

      Reply
  9. Megly Mc says:
    August 24, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    That was truly lovely. :) Everyone should have friends like you, at their backs, in a fight. You are amazing.

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 24, 2013 at 3:03 pm

      This is an amazing group of women, Meg. I’m honored to call them girlfriends.

      Reply
  10. Chrissy Censullo says:
    August 26, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    You and the group are just amazing. Everyone should have a group of girlfriends like you ladies. Stay strong Sue. Hugs

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 26, 2013 at 10:46 pm

      You get what you give, right? As you know…J. gave lots. xx

      Reply
  11. Lee Ann Hind says:
    August 26, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Sue,
    What a great story and what a great party. She was so lucky to have all of you and to be surrounded by your friendships. That party is exactly the party she would have planned…
    Love and hugs,
    Lee Ann

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 26, 2013 at 10:47 pm

      It amazes me how perfect the timing was, LeeAnn. Not a day too late. :)

      Reply
  12. Mary-andering Creatively says:
    August 27, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    What a wonderful thing to do for a friend. Made me cry LOL. I need a tissue. thank you for the inspiration. I am praying for your friend,

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 27, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      Thanks, Mary. The prayers are very much appreciated.

      Reply
  13. Shell says:
    August 27, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    What a lovely thing to do for a friend!

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 27, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      She would have done the same for any of us in a heartbeat, Shell.

      Reply
  14. Wordful Wednesday. Race Cars & Rodeos. - dude mom says:
    August 27, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    [...] to Remember {Toy Story} at Marlie and Me, the most beautiful reason behind a rockin’ indoor Beach Party at The Spin Cycle, a Peek at Zion National Park from Better in Bulk, and a whole post about Drag [...]

    Reply
  15. Stephanie says:
    August 27, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    Ditto what they all said … and it was so beautifully written, my friend. So, so sweet. Prayers for your girlfriend…

    Reply
    • Sue says:
      August 28, 2013 at 10:28 am

      Thanks, babe. How I’ve missed you!!

      Reply
  16. The Spin CycleDoing Grief - The Spin Cycle | The Spin Cycle says:
    August 29, 2013 at 5:00 am

    [...] feel indescribable thankfulness for the indoor beach party that I attended just over a week ago.  Because my friend went back into the hospital for the last time the very next [...]

    Reply
  17. Becky B says:
    March 20, 2014 at 11:06 am

    She is so lucky to have amazing friends like you!

    Reply
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    March 1, 2016 at 9:45 am

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