A Tribute Poem For My Dear Friend, Margaret. Margaret and I met in the fall of '81, fresh out of UCONN, our schooling was done. Hired by the City of Hartford as Social Worker I's, We set out to make a difference in the lives of everyone. We quickly became friends with one common goal Move out from our parents, to save our souls. Roommates we became and we had a blast, The time we shared was great; time quickly passed. I got married, it was time to move on, I started a family and Margaret found Ron. Elizabeth joined them after a whirlwind endeavor, Then Cameron was born, now a family forever. Margaret stayed home to be with her kids, Volunteering and touching lives in all that she did. She was happy and life was good, Did all that she wanted and all that she should. Then came the day they told her she had cancer, it had to be a mistake, there had to be an answer. They first told her she didn’t have very long, But she would fight this, proving them wrong. And so began the battle of her life, Determined to stay here as a mother and wife. Throughout her illness these past five years, her family was foremost in all of her fears. Ron took care of his family with love, Always going beyond and above. She would do what it took, seeking expert advice, She was going to fight cancer at all and any price. We exchanged 100s of emails, we lived an hour apart, We talked about family and matters of the heart. I spent 4 days with her after her surgery at Sloan, We shared special moments in our time alone. We talked about a weekend away from it all, but her heart kept her home, a mother's call. We joked about things and how our kids had grown, And the love and support so many had shown. The kick she got when the cleaning crew came, Made her laugh and put her methods to shame. The meals that were brought were so thoughtful and kind, They meant so much more than any restaurant find. The last several months she deeply declined, Her heart was fighting, but her body resigned. Elizabeth and Cameron had school to complete, She held on longer not accepting defeat. Cameron must take his trip…her concern, Holding on further, for him to return. Elizabeth’s birthday was Friday, July 1st, Margaret waited a day, to lesson the hurt. My life is deeply touched by your friendship and grace, I will miss you my friend, and your smiling face.