My sister-in-law,my friend

Back in April of1996, Dan and I visited Joe and Denise for a few days at the beginning of our 2 week,first-time visit to California. We had a wonderful time....Denise and Joe walked our tootsies off ....up and down every hill in San Fran...we ate in, we ate out, we slept on the Murphy bed,we took the ferry out to Alcatraz!!!!... my refrigerator magnet still holds it's place of honor!...and then when we came home that night, we rented the movie Alcatraz ....spotted a whale off Point Reyes....ate in a favorite seafood restaurant of Denise's.....we spent the day at Muir Woods,among the redwoods ...Denise made sure we did everything...even spent time at the wharf, watching the seals.....we had a really good time....but the best thing Denise did for us was to re-route our itinerary...our plan was to drive down the coast, sightseeing along the way, eventually making our way to San Diego....but Denise was beside herself when she found out we weren't going to stop at Yosemite Nat'l Park....it didn't matter that it was a 4 hr detour, in the opposite direction of where we were heading! She picked up the phone, and made reservations for us in a cabin (a miracle to get at such short notice....the next day!!!!! )....she told us we wouln't be sorry....and guess what? We were not! We found ourselves in a little log cabin at the base of El Capitan!!! It was magnificent,awesome, and incredible! Yosemite took our breath away, and opened up a world we never knew! Spending those few days there sowed the seeds of adventure for Dan and I......Thank you, Denise, for showing us how to think out of the box! And thank you for diplomatically (not!)...pointing out how we had overpacked....another good lesson learned!
Dan and I always cherished that time we spent with you! And all the other good times, as well! I miss you already, dear friend, your vibrant spirit was amazing! You always made us feel important to you. You faced your death as you faced your life....with grace and courage. In our last conversation, you told me ..." I have had a great life, I have done all that I wanted, I have had a good husband,family and friends....." and then in the spirit that was so Denise, she then said "Enough about me, how are those boys?"
I will miss you!
love,
Maureen( Sharkey)