This is why doing craft shows sucks sometimes...

A few days ago I found out that one of my best friends from high school suddenly passed away in her sleep. I can't stop thinking about it.  I keep asking myself how this could happen to such a young, vibrant woman who was so clearly in love and happy with her life. It's just not fair.
Emily was born to be in the spotlight. In high school, she taught me how to play guitar. I was the rhythm guitarist along with our friend Donna on bass, in our garage band the " Hell's Hussies" (yeah, you read that right. We played a lot of Hole and Nirvana covers. Hey, it was the mid nineties, what did you expect?)
Emily, Donna and I spent our formative years together, so needless to say there was a bond formed that could not be broken by time.

After high school, Emily and Donna stayed in touch, but I sort of drifted off in doing my own thing. Recently we had all reconnected when Emily got engaged. At Emily's bachelorette party we all got to hang out and it felt like not a moment had passed since high school. Brought me right back to those days. She even got up and did a little Beatles karaoke.

from left to right: Me, Donna, Emily, Amy (my sister) and Claire

I was fortunate enough to see her one last time when she came to visit me at the Lilac Festival just a few weeks ago. We got to catch up a little and she showed me the beautiful Marilyn Monroe style dress she was going to wear when she and her husband renewed their vows in just a few short weeks. She would have looked gorgeous in it.

Now back to the reason why doing craft shows sucks sometimes. Her funeral and viewing is on Sunday. I'm brokenhearted that I have a craft show to attend all day Saturday and Sunday all the way out in Buffalo,NY (about an hour and a half from where I live) I have been trying to get into this show for a few years now, and if I cancel at such short notice, I risk not ever being invited back and because this is my primary source of income now I cant really afford to drop out.  I have tried to contact other friends that I trust to run my booth for the day, but so far have had no luck. My mom even lives in Buffalo, but has to work all day Sunday. There is no way out of doing this show. I am sure I will be less than chipper all day Sunday knowing what is going on at home. Probably wont help my sales much to be down in the dumps either. 

Wish there was a way around all of this. I should be there. Lord knows my thoughts will certainly be with her. 

"Good friends we've had and good friends we've lost along the way. In this bright future you can't forget your past. So dry your tears I say..." ~ Bob Marley