Remembering Pam
By Charlotte McPherson
I will always remember you as you walked Frankie, the furry friend that you and Cory shared. We became the women of Avista who sat on the shady side of the pool. You were protecting your skin, and as a woman of color, I felt that I did not need to be any darker.
I will remember one important thing we had in common was that both of us were the same age. Also, we had brothers who experienced tragic deaths in their early 40’s . I will miss those beach days when she always made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It became our treat until we could venture to the Lido beach food court. Sometimes I could get her to go out in the water with me, but she liked to be near the shore.
I will still venture to “The Meadows Country Club” lap pool. We loved that the Cafe next door would bring your purchased food to the pool. At these moments we felt like we were really living the life in paradise!
I still remember our visits to St Armand’s Circle when we wondered in and out of stores. There were numerous street fairs and Art festivals that we also attended. She was good at evaluating all the artistic goods and offering positive comments to the artist.
Sometimes we danced to the music of a variety of bands that played on sizzling summer Friday nights down by the Van Wezel Concert Hall. Oh, how we loved to dance, both at the music festivals and at home during special music award shows. And of course, we shared fashion interests as we viewed numerous red-carpet events and evaluated the fashionistas.
We celebrated lots of birthdays between us and her son Cory. These were at home events with wonderful food cooked by Pam. Yes, she could really” throw down” in the kitchen. Most of our birthday celebrations were at home events with Cory. The three of us really had an enjoyable time together.
One evening when Pam went with me to a Walmart grocery store, she seemed a bit loopy. When we left, she told me the story of the previous day. She had made some mistakes when driving her car. She also found herself leaning to the left during most of the movements she made.
The next day I decided to get her to the Emergency Room. She resisted and we verbally fought over her going to see a doctor. Cory and I both agreed that she needed to go. After much distress, she got dressed but only agreed to go to Urgent Care. Once inside, the doctor said that she wanted us to go to the Emergency Room immediately.
After being in the Emergency room for at least an hour and a half, they gave her a CT scan. The neurosurgeon came out to report the heartbreaking news. Pam had a mass on her brain. After keeping Pam in the hospital overnight, they gave her an MRI. This turned out to be an affirmation of her previous test. So, the Drs. decided to immediately operate on her Pam’s surgery seemed successful, and they eventually sent her to a rehab hospital. When we saw her there, both Cory and I felt that she was on the road to recovery. However, she eventually took a turn for the worse when they put two stints in her legs.
During her final days Paige, her daughter, was able to see and converse with her mother. Many others wished they could, but she wanted people to remember her only during the good times.
Pam loved and enjoyed your family. She looked forward to her visits with Paige and her granddaughters Payton and Parker.
Of course, she and Cory shared a special bond too since they lived together.
I enjoyed my time with Pammy, as I often called her. She really touched my life and my heart!!
Until we meet again, my dear friend!!!