Finding humor in life
One of my heroes, Sonia Loper, died Saturday.
After a 20-year battle with cancer, the disease won.
Sonia was sick most of the time I knew her. I watched her go through chemotherapy more than once, which usually meant she'd lose all her hair and her voice.
She poked fun at sounding raspy and her hair situation.
Always beautiful, and damn funny, Sonia would jokingly say she was "sexy bald," and giggle about the short curly hair on head, as it grew back saying, "My poor little hairs are just struggling, trying to grow."
The woman could turn a phrase, and always ran a lively beauty shop.
Her loves were doing hair, raising Breah and being married to Rick Loper, not necessarily in that order.
And when Sonia laughed, oh, she laughed as if all the joys in life were in that moment.
She was good at hunting down a good bargain, whether it was on a cute top for Breah or another gold bracelet for herself.
Sonia was generous with her love and friendship, and welcomed others into her life, home, church and beauty salon.
That's why I loved her, and why I'm so devastated about losing her.
In my business, saying this sounds a little cliched but, Sonia always made me laugh. She comforted me when I felt like crying.
I wish she was here now.
I'd tell her how much her fighting spirit inspired me.
I'd tell her that I'm a better person because she had been part of my life.
I'd tell her she's did an excellent job with her daughter Breah, and that the teen carries the same sunshine and love her mother has.
I'd tell her how much I valued the time I had with her, and how she gave me strength.
But most of all, I'd tell her that I love her, and now, I feel a little lost without her around.
So, as her daughter wrote on her MySpace page: "Rest in Peace, mom."
We were ;iucky to have you, and the world is a sadder place now that you're gone.
