Got a call Friday night from my "evil twin." She was married to hubby's best friend from college & we became instant besties the minute we met. And we got John in all kinds of trouble when I was expecting Kate. See, she was expecting her 1st as well - they ended up being born 3 days apart - and we were both short, blonde hair, blue eye'd ladies. ANYWAY, her husband was on deployment at Fort Campbell and she was living near Richmond KY and he needed to get some paperwork to her ASAP. We met him in Elizabethtown KY since we were halfway between Richmond & Etown, got the papers, and then she met John at his office in Lexington 1st thing the next morning to pick them up & as usual, left with a big hug & a peck on the cheek. Now John had just started working there & they hadn't met ME yet. Flash forward a couple of hours & I picked up John for lunch, meeting him with a big hug & a kiss on the cheek. After lunch when I dropped him off, he got called into his boss's office to be given then "I don't know what you're doing in your personal life but we don't want it happening here in our office!" speech. He was like "HUH??????" before finally realizing they thought one of us was a pregnant sidepiece!!! We still laugh over it...

Anyway, about 10 years later, her husband was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. They thought they got it. They didn't. Eventually he passed away after some truly horrific surgeries & treatments. At one point, they cut him wide open, filled his abdomen with HOT chemo, and sloshed him around like a washing machine.... Leaving her on her own with 2 young girls.

She made it - it's been rough but she & the girls are doing all right. Until now... Her call Friday night started with "I didn't want to tell you but I've joined the same club Bob and John are in...."

Breast cancer. Stage 3.

Ironically, she's on the same immunotherapy that didn't work on John.

And if that's not enough, my local bestie (who's made at me over the visitation & funeral last week) is having heart issues stemming from her cancer treatment 30 years ago...

It never ends.