Feelin’ Bad

November 4, 2013 – Monday

Feelin’ Bad

I have to tell you about my friend, Shirley Ricks.  Shirley was a pharmacy technician at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, TN for many years.   Shirley was among the nicest people I have ever known, and we became great friends during the time I worked at Erlanger.  Shirley was diagnosed with diabetes and sometimes she didn’t feel very well at work.

One day, when Shirley came to work, I said, “Hey, Shirley, how are you?”

She replied, “I just don’t feel good.”

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Oh, Jimmy, I don’t know.  I just don’t feel good at all.”

I said, “Well here, let me feel you.”  It was summer and Shirley was wearing a sleeveless dress, so I felt of her upper arm.  Her skin felt cool and smooth, so I said, “Shirley, you feel pretty good to me.”

“No”, she said, “I’m feelin’ really, really bad.”

“Shirley”, I said, “Maybe you’re just not feelin’ in the right place!”

We both broke out in a huge belly laugh.  The other twenty people in the pharmacy heard us and thought we were totally crazy, but Shirley and I laughed so hard we cried and we both felt better for the rest of the day.

Shirley and I made a pact that day, that we would have one really good laugh every day of our lives.  We kept that bargain as long as we worked together at Erlanger.

My friend, Shirley Ricks passed away October 11, of 2011.  I love to tell this story because every time I do, it reminds me of my great friend, Shirley Ricks, and how much we enjoyed laughing with each other and how important (and healthy) it is to try and find something to laugh out loud about each day.

Thank you, friend.  I know where you are and I know you are still laughing and will for eternity.