Losing a Customer & a Friend

Most of my readers know that my trade is pest control. In this type of business you meet all types; the good, the bad, the ugly, neat freaks and the messy freaks. Over the years I have become close to several of my customers and rightfully so; I see them on a monthly basis. Many of my customers are elderly and are sweet as pie. I usually spend a few extra minutes with them because they are lonely and do not have many people that come to visit. They love the attention and time spent chatting with them.
Today I went to one of my favorite customers, Ms. Irma.
Ms. Irma is 91 and she always has a ziplock bag of cookies for me when I treat her home. I can always count on her to make me smile. Ms. Irma was diagnosed with Alzheimers many months back.
Today I pulled up in Ms. Irma's driveway and noticed several cars in her drive also. I was met at the door by her daughter, Sharon. By the look on Sharon's face I knew something was wrong. Grief was very evident in her eyes. She asked me to come inside and we sat at the kitchen table and as usual, there was my bag of cookies laying there.
"Where's Ms. Irma? Is she resting?", I asked with hope in my voice.
"Mom past away yesterday, of a heart attack", Sharon answered with tears welling up in her eyes. I gave my heart-felt condolences to Sharon and for her family.
"Mom said she wasn't going to let that degrading desease take her and she didn't", Sharon stated. I told Sharon how highly I thought of her mom and she told me how Ms. Irma thought of me. I told Sharon how happy her mother was when I told her I was engaged. Sharon then reached for my bag of cookies and handed them to me, "You enjoy these cookies, Bryan".
As I left I was given a note with the funeral info and was asked to come if at all possible. I assured Sharon that I would be there, come hell or high water.
I went to the nearby park, pulled under an oak tree and enjoyed those homemade peanut butter cookies.
Ms. Irma will be missed. I hope I can live as long as her and be as happy as she made the people around her feel.