Pat:

Last night we went to a farewell dinner for a dear friend, Pat Workman.  Pat put her life on hold the last few years to take care of her mother.  Maxine passed away last month.
I periodically stopped in to visit with Pat and Maxine.  Maxine was always in good spirits even when in pain.  Pat took such good care of her Mom.  She was so patient and kind.  She had to tube feed her Mom, clean her body, etc.  Pat would sometimes look so exhausted but never complained.  She said it was an honor to be able to take care of her Mother.  I admire Pat so much; I don't think I could go on as long and as graciously in being a caregiver.
Pat is moving to Hawaii and leaving tomorrow.  The visit last night was reminiscing about our childhood days and especially in remembering a song Maxine used to sing, Cowboy Nell.  My sister, Judy memorized the song and can sing it really well.  Judy used to get so aggravated at me after Sunday dinners because I would always beg her to sing the song.  Pat sang it last night.  Her brother, Brad-who is a little eccentric looking, really got choked up over her singing the song.  It was one of his best memories of his Mom while growing up.  He recorded Pat singing on his phone.  I have the words to the song below.

Cowboy Nell

How did it happen stranger, I will tell you
We'll stop and let our horses rest a spell
I'll tell you of the boss's little daughter
The boys all called  her little Cowboy Nell

She could ride across the prairie like an arrow
She could shoot a six gun held in either hand
She could rope a horse and get him saddled
Quicker than any bronco buster in the land

She had big blue eyes that made you think of violets
When she smiled it sort of made you glad inside
Not a cowboy on the range that didn't love her
For her, any bar x puncher would have died

It was fall and we were rounding up the doggies
There came a storm, the worst I ever saw
It rained and hailed, the cattle all stampeded
Finally we corralled them in a draw

But, when all hands had gathered round the campfire
We knew at once this hadn't ended well
Our faces white as death for she was missing
We couldn't find our little Cowboy Nell

We searched until midnight, then we found her
Where her horse had fell and pitched her on a rock
I rode thirty miles at night to get a doctor
He said her skull was fractured from the shock

Before she went, her blue eyes fluttered open
The boys all gathered close around her bed
She faintly said goodbye, then all was over
We knew our little Cowboy Nell was dead

We dug her grave up there among the cedars
Now that she's gone, it's made a change in us
There's not a man among us touches liquor
And you'll never hear a bar x puncher cuss

Stranger if you ever pass that grove of cedars
Take off your hat and pray a little spell
For of all the angels waiting up in heaven
There are none so fair and bright as Cowboy Nell

A lifetime of memories and childhood bonds that aren't broken, it was a pleasant night of memories.
I am grateful for these neighbors and friends.  And I am grateful to have known a friend so selfless and gracious as Pat.