Time to say goodbye?

MINE IS NOT FOR SALE-SHE IS LOVELY

Dear B,
When I first met 'A' 18 years ago, I was told by my friends that his Mum always invited new girlfriends to the house for tea and biscuits and a 'chat'.  The thought filled me with dread.  Finally after a few weeks of 'courting' 'A' brought me home one Friday evening to meet 'the' parents and instead of tea and biscuits you offered me a glass of whiskey and a packet of crisps.  I didn't (and still don't) drink whiskey but I did that night as I was a guest and you did offer (just thinking maybe it was a test?).   Immediately you made me feel at ease telling me all about Mrs. such and such, who was the cousin of such and such and was married to such and such, who was the son of such and such....

Over the years we've had our ups and downs.  I'll never forget your face when I told you A didn't know what a cheese grater was.  Firstly, I think you were shocked I was feeding him pasta (He was always used to meat and three veg-proper dinners as you call them) and secondly you were horrified I was making him help cook his own dinner.  It was probably the one and only times you didn't join me in a fit of giggles.  You did however try and make your own Lasagne the following week and couldn't understand why it didn't taste the same (It was the gravy granules-you don't put gravy granules in Lasagne).

Your son can do no wrong in your eyes and when I nagged him for getting 'another' parking ticket, you looked at me with such a serious face and informed me that it wasn't his fault and that it was a stupid place to put double yellow lines.  The glare said it all...'leave my son alone'.

You minded  'R' when I went back to work after my maternity and there was a difference of opinion 'to swaddle or not to swaddle'.  I wanted things done by the latest childcare book and you often reminded me that you had four children that had turned out perfectly healthy so you were obviously doing something right!

We both love getting our cards read, mediums and as 'A' calls it hocus pocus.  Remember the time we went to the Helix and chatted continuously about made up people in the hope that John Edwards would pick one of us.  He didn't.  You promised me that day that if there was anything after life, you would come back and tell me.

In August we went to a family wedding and we sneaked off to the bedroom to watch Coronation street. We had a lovely chat and when I poured out some of my 'woes' you reminded me 'There is nothing you can't get out of except a graveyard" and you were right.

Last week we got the most unexpected devastating news that you have 2 brain tumours and that there is nothing the Doctors can do.  According to them our time is limited to a few weeks.  We haven't told you because we don't want you to be scared.  It's been so hard watching your husband, daughters and son getting upset.  Your not my Mother and I am not your daughter so I feel I have to put on the brave face and keep spirits up  (that's why I wore the Santy hat and the Christmas earrings in to see you and it's also why I have been regaling you will silly jokes and funny stories - I haven't 'lost it' just yet).  I

I do believe in miracles and I'm hoping there will be one.  I'm hoping that this time next year we'll be sitting around listening to you go on and on about how we nearly had you dead and buried.

Mother in Laws often get a bad name..Monster-in-Law.

To me your so much more than Mother in Law.

Thank you for being my friend. xxx