Claire was my friend. We shared alot together while watching the *soaps* and Dr. Phil. She came to life as she talked about her experiences and how the world around her changed as time passed. Although frustrated with declining health and not being able to drive, I could see Claire's style: the clothes she liked, her make-up, her appointments at the hair salon. But that was only a reflection of how much she cared about things. Even the cat. I witnessed Claire getting jumped by the kitty and she would swear that he was on the way out. The sofa was in shreads and the cat stayed. Her granddaughter gave her the cat and Claire was proud of that. There were days that she could not remember what she had for breakfast but she would always remember to tell me about her children and her grandchildren. Claire was happiest when sharing recent stories or reflecting on past events with her family.
