Shocked and Awed

[Sweetintoxikation]

Well, I've had a lot of people send me love and hugs and best wishes about this matter and after a surprise today I felt I needed to honor my friend and the sphinx I've named after her.

As a few people noticed, earlier this week (my sister's birthday in fact) I came home to some extremely shocking news about a very long time friend. I used to live on the street next to her's and we grew up (from fourth grade) together and playing games. Sadly, I'd not heard from her in the last couple of years but I still kept in touch with her mother.

Last I'd heard, this friend had gotten a divorce but was happier and moving into her chosen career path of Beautician. (As in the magazines and such and was doing well..) But, shockingly and in a surreal turn of events I found out she passed away on either Monday or Tuesday from brain tumors.

She'd been diagnosed with them less than a year ago and for a while (from my understanding) she'd been doing well but suddenly she didn't and is no longer with us. I'm not saying this to make people feel bad, just to give you a brief history about this person and why I need to honor her.

Brittany Brown, was a beautiful woman with a vivacious attitude and more love to spare then anyone else I know. I don't keep many close friends and hardly ever do I keep female friends because of the cattiness I have encountered in my life. But Brittany.. was never cruel, rude, spiteful or hateful to anyone who knew her. I remember her as my first friend in a new school back in 4th grade -- singing all the Spice Girls songs and Backstreet Boys and so on as we grew. We shared laughter, tee-peed houses in revenge (mostly the boys at school that we liked) and had blasts at my annual Halloween parties.

She was a true friend to everyone and I'm not simply talking good about her because she is gone. This is who she was. She was loved, treasured and is sorely missed by everyone she ever touched the lives of. My heart goes out to her family and I will be attending the services when we find out where they are being held.

BUT, the good part to this is the awe that I am in. Moonlily held a contest for inspiration pictures (I believe it's still going on too) in the Heb thread and I entered with a beautiful fishie/paper art piece I found. I never expected what came out...

This beautiful female, now named in honor of my lost friend, is the result of Moonlily's hard work and to my shock her eyes exactly match the real Brittany's eyes. Her soft coloring, fluffy feet, silky tail.. everything about her remind me of my friend of so many years..

And so it is why I am posting this. Brittany is so named to honor my friend and to help me remember the good that she brought into our lives while she was with us. She is missed but never forgotten.



Thank you Moonlily -- you didn't know it at the time, and neither did I, but this was meant to be for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. <3 <3 <3

[Cameron]

*squish-hugs Toxi*

I'm dearly sorry for your loss! I'm always around to talk if need be, but I'm glad that you've been able to honor your friend through Sphinxes! I can completely empathize with you on the loss of a friend, and I one day hope to bring my best friend here too! <3

My thoughts are with you! :3

[Sweetintoxikation]

*hug-squishes*

Thank you Cammeh. I'm doing alright with it. I was talking to some of my other friends (who all knew and loved Britt) and we were having fun laughing at our childhood antics. For the most part it's just surreal to have lost her and so suddenly.

It wasn't a well known health issue (as in -- no one outside her family actually knew) and so the death is striking the rest of us alot harder I think. Some of my friends and I can't come to terms with her actually being gone and that's what makes it surreal.

This is actually the second time I've lost a friend, the first was in high school to drinking and driving. But it doesn't get easier either.

That being said, I'm alright. Just.. shocked and trying to understand my own reaction to her being gone. I'm most worried about her younger sister who is taking it very hard. Many of my friends were the older sisters to the younger set that were all the same age. We've been dealing with one of the younger trying to commit suicide (though she's failed, twice) and now the death of one of 'our set' all in a year. It's hard and the younger girls are taking it hardest.

So, I ask all my lovely friends here in Sphinxes to send the love and hugs you would for me to my Brittany's younger sister. Even if it's just in your thoughts for her. We all worry about her and the other girls.

((I call them girls because they are younger and all like little sisters for me))

[ayaka]

*Deeply hugs* Im very sorry to hear that Toxi, that’s something I wish no one, had to go through. I won’t say much but just that I have a cousin who is like a sister to me and she was diagnosed with lupus, it was very unexpected. Yet she tells me to smile and there’s a bright side, which I then look at her like she is crazy lol.

She makes the worse things ok and I love her for that. At least you were able to have her as what sounded like a true friend who you could count on, it’s really hard to find others like that and Brittany is a beautiful sphinxe with her soft colors and gorgeous designs.

Usually I don’t mention things like this to many because I don’t want to bother anyone but this just really connected with me. I send my blessings to you and her family.

[Sweetintoxikation]

*hugs Ayaka* Thank you hun and I understand completely and thank you for your support and blessings.

And I shall send the same for your cousin. Lupus is not something that is easy to deal with and I commend her on being so brave and strong.

*hugs more tightly*

[springacres]

*hugs* So sorry for your loss Toxi, but what a lovely way to remember your friend by naming a gorgeous sphinx after her! *hugsquishsuperhugsqueeeze*

[ayaka]

Np, I think it helps to talk to someone about problems that you face in real life sometimes and thank you as well ^^.

[Sweetintoxikation]

*hugs Spring and Ayaka again*

It is the perfect way to remember my friend. I read her obituary and it made me sad again. But her services are this Saturday -- so I will (hopefully) be there in the late evening. Just need a way to show how much she meant to so many of us.