Dear Susie. We were friends from the get-go. How, I don't know. We were so different. You were smart and pretty and prim and proper with a deep love of the Lord. I was rough and tumble, foul mouthed and bitter and angry at the world and loved my patron saint Blessed Mother. But we were both Irish and proud and loved our mothers. You would tell me stories about Floss and I would talk about Ella. We knew they would be friends. Just like us. We spent many working hours joking and cracking up, trying to pass the time best we could. I would make you tell me all your Joe Casey stories. And you did so,gladly. We blamed everything on being Irish. We said that suffering was part of our heritage.We blamed being Irish for our thick skin, hard heads and big hearts. But we'd never have it any other way. We pondered life and I questioned the purpose of suffering. I needed to know why God would allow my mother to suffer so long andYou told me about redemptive suffering. You believed the bible teaching that people suffered for the benefit of others, so others had a chance to go to heaven. I didn't like it but chose to believe it. It brings me comfort to this day. I believe that you too are responsible for another soul having the honor of heaven. I'm sure of it. I'm so lucky to have known you and know that it was God's plan for us to be friends. I will miss you for the rest of my life Susie, my Irish buddy.