Now it was springtime again and the weather was warming up, so out we went as usual. We had to take some extra food because Ruby needed to eat more often, with her new diet. She loved to be outdoors and go riding in the car.

Sometimes she would start hurting and we would need to give her a special pill. It might make her sick for a couple of days. Afterwards I found out she didn't seem to remember being sick. Maybe that was nature's way to help her get through the hard times.

Her birthday was very quite that summer as she didn't have much energy for it, but did thank all of her good friends for showing up. She always received lots of beautiful flower bouquets.

The next month Doreen and others decided to get help from a program called hospice, which taught us how to better care for Ruby. They were connected with her hospital. Everyone was so nice and helpful and the nurses came by a couple of times every week. They checked Ruby over and told us of any changes in her routine.

After a couple of months we noticed she was sleeping more and because of the no fat diet, loosing a little weight, and had less energy. Then the nurses said it would be better for her to have a hospital bed so we could move her around easier, when she was sick. Next we had to take her big bed down and put it away. Of course, when she felt better she wanted it back. So we told her that it was Doctor's orders to get the bed.

She always had been a neat and clean lady but now she didn't want her hair washed. Probably because she didn't have the energy she used to have. Some mornings she would wake up saying "I'm so tired." Next we got a nice lady to come and give her a special bath every week. One day she said to me, "People don't listen to me anymore. They do what they want." I had to tell her they were trying to help her. Then she would say something like, " I don't know why I'm hanging around here so long. I'm not doing anyone any good." I answered that it was so she could ENTERTAIN us. That was the truth and satisfied her.

One day the Doctor decided to give Ruby a series of steroids to pep her up, and we called them baby pep pills. Now she went for walks and rides everyday. Then she found her red slacks again and they fit and really looked good so off we went. Every day when we went out again she would say, "This might be my last time." and of course she didn't ant to miss a thing. After I went off duty she would say, "I might not be here when you come back." So I said a big good bye, and said I was happy for her, as she would be seeing her family again.

After a couple of weeks went by, She finished the series of pills and felt tired again. One day her preacher called and asked her to come back to church for a special program. She made it for him, but had to come right home again to rest.

Dennis, another good friend, that was also a preacher from the downtown church, came by. He told her a story about a little girl that was taking a trip with her Mother. The girl cried, as she was scared to go through the dark tunnel that was ahead. Then she went to sleep and when she awoke she asked her Mother, "When will we get to see the tunnel?" Her Mother said, we already went through it dear, and look how pretty things are. He knew she would be going through the tunnel soon.

Now fall was here again and Ruby was sleeping at night. At about 1am she got up to use the bathroom and fell down near her bed. I heard her yell and ran to help her back up to bed. Early in the morning we took her to the Doctor's office. Later that day she probably had a stroke and she couldn't talk. Next she refused to drink water and we knew she was getting ready to go on. About a week later she peacefully passed away at her home.

There was a big church funeral for Ruby. She lay in a pretty white casket wearing her beautiful red blouse, and everyone said she looked very pretty.

At the cemetery they laid the casket next to her husband. It was now late in the fall but I had one last leaf to put on her casket. Yes, I miss my good friend but am happy she is finally free to fly again.

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Miss Muriel