A Poem for my friend       Janice  Friend by: Jacqueline Harris                May 2007
		Have you ever had a friend that was close enough to be kin? Well that's what I had in Janice, it 's no wonder why her last name really is Friend. I remember way back then, when we became friends, we may as well have been kin! At first today seemed like it was going to be a dreary day in my life, because I lost a true friend that I had for the past twenty years in my life. We shared laughter, good times, and sometimes tears, and yes we faced some very difficult years. But through the storms, and facing our fears, God continued to bless us renewing our friendship year after year. Janice was a friend and never was judgmental about the things that I may say, her care and concern helped me to learn and correct the errors of my ways. After her words of friendly advice, you can best believe that I'd always think twice, about the things I do or say, because a real friend can make you feel that way! Just do, what you do, and keep a pure heart, cause when life throws you a cure ball, Janice would say  "Knock that Mother out of the park!" Janice never held a grudge, and nor did I, a main ingredient of  how our friendship survived. Janice would give you the shirt off her back, you know, she was just cool like that. With her salt and pepper hair that lined her face, Janice had a smile so bright, it would light up anyplace. So as I sit around and remembering the past, I often wondered how long does life really last! I came to the conclusion, that it last as long as the memories are kept alive, by surviving family members and friends, so please dry your weeping eyes. When I'd experience some rough and stormy days, I would call on Janice and she'd say "Hey, don't  worry about, because everything  is going to be okay. Especially if God gives you tomorrow, I can guarantee you will no longer be drowning in yesterday's sorrows. As an individual Janice stood out from others, showing her sons Steven and Vincent that there's no bond stronger than a mothers - she even gave each of  you a gift  of a   brother. Janice you have been such a very good friend, I still  can't  help but wonder if we are really kin. No tears, only cheer, when remembering yester-years-of birthdays, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Family Reunions, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and of course New Years. It was May 20th Two-Thousand Seven, when God called my good friend home to heaven. It's been hard facing the fact that she gone, no longer here to pick up the phone. . . but from the words of a true friend, Janice would say "Hey life goes on. . .So go on, go on and live your life, cause after all this is a celebration of my life!