I lost a friend today

I lost a friend today.

Marilyn Purswell died this morning after battling breast cancer for 4 years.

I have heard people say someone "lost their battle with cancer". I have heard people say someone "won their fight" or "earned their wings". whatever. I'm not sure what the correct terminology is today.

bottom line
today
a husband lost his wife
3 children lost their mother
a grandson lost his grandmother.
& friends lost a great friend.



Maryilyn & her husband were friends of my parents. However she & I developed a friendship too. She gave me a wonderful bridal shower before I married Gregg. Her home was amazing. She lived in an old farm house-even had little chickens whose eggs she would gather in the morning. I always admired her & her sense of style. She was shabby chic before anyone had even heard of shabby chic. Anyway, that shower she gave me crabtree & evelyn scented drawer sheets & a laura ashley gown. I thought the gifts were wonderful.
Our first christmas together she gave me pink victorian ornaments- some of my most favorite treasures today.

She opened a little shop in the village where I grew up, named Friends & Daughters. It featured Mary Engelbreit cards & gifts. Before she moved she sold her shop to her best friend, another precious friend of mine. I bought the shop from her. My little baby- I loved it. Unfortunately when Gregg was diagnosed with cancer I could not keep it up & had to sell it myself. But I loved her vision & retail flare. When I asked her why she chose the name "friends & daughters" she told me that she hoped her beautiful twin girls would grow up & not only be her daughters but her kindred spirited friends as well.



She & her family moved to Exeter New Hampshire- a picturesque coastal town filled with political history. Dan & I went to see them a few years ago while the leaves were turning. If I wasn't such a gulf coast lover I think I may want to live there......gorgeous town! We arrived to her well over 100 year old home late that fall evening. I remember she had a candle lit in a pumpkin faced galvanized tin at the the entrance. ( As soon as we got back to Atlanta I had to find me one too!) She had the largest cinderella heirloom pumpkin sitting by her stone fireplace. Thus began my love affair with pumpkins.
She had re-opened her shop up there & filled it with wonderful flax clothing & gorgeous home decor.



She was soft spoken but had strong opinions.

She was a beautiful woman with timeless charm.

She was an entrepreneur.

She was a strong supporter of the Republican party.

She loved George Bush.

She was a wonderful mother.

She had style & elegance.

She was loved.