Shirley and I have been best friends for 56 years!!!  In all that time we've never had any cross words or fusses.                                                                                                            Oh we've had some adventures in our younger years. My Mom drove Shirley's school bus from the 1st time she came to De Soto High School as a Freshman.  Ofcourse we became friends instanly.  If I wasn't at her grandparents house--she was at ours.  We couldn't get by with anything since Mom drove the bus!!  If school had a game or event Shirley would ride the bus home with my Mom as well as a few others and we'd fix tacos. YES tacos were a big thing even back in our days!!            When we grew up and had kids we were still at each others house and fixing burritos with Velvetta cheese inside.  We'd done a few crazy things back then-always had fun and good times--like going to Macy's on the Kaw.  What a place!!!  Ha   We were more like sisters than best friends. Our kids were playmates when younger with each of them thinking they had a second Mom in each of us!!!!                                  There were a few years we went our separate ways---but that didn't last long--we were right back together--where we'd left off.                                                                      We went to Hawaii several years visiting her son John & family. Always having fun times in whatever we did.  Then son Doug and Bonnie having twin boys now with a third boy.  What exciting news.                                                                                                In later years Shirley developed RA---well then later I had RA--we always said that we were so much alike that We were sisters!!!  We spent time going to doctor appt. and ofcourse went out to eat on every outing--mexican food--imagine that.                  We lived just a mile away from each other--was always on the phone when we needed something--and we counseled each other when needed--always saying it was good free advice.                                                                                                        Shirley was so proud to be able to do most anything she set her mind to--like getting on Lelands three wheeler with the help of one of the granddaughters and going for a three hour ride--hoping she wouldn't lose her artifical leg!!!!!!   Through all her medical problems she never once complained about any of them!!!!  Shirley was a true best friend a person could ever have.  Anyone could tell you what a good thoughtfull caring person she was----always thinking of other people and their problems.                                                                                                                                       You think you have all the time in the world to talk or go places with your best friend- --but then there's that saying "that tomorrow is not promised."  I should know that.       The last time I talked to Shirley was at the end of Sept.--- they were going to start home from Wyoming--(soooo glad they got to go in their new trailer.) It was a couple days after my birthday--she had lost time while having fun.  I answered the phone knowing it was her--she said--"Ha ha, you're 69, the same age as me now."  We talked about their time there and about going out to eat for my birthday when they got home--telling them to be carefull coming home.  That was my last conversation with her on the phone.  But not my last conversation with her in Heaven.  I've talked to her through clouds-through sunshine-through the rain today--and I will contine talking to her. I know I will be asking her for advice from time to time.  The next time I go to Red Lobster I will think of her , because that's where we'd of gone for my BD.  I'll celebrate her as my bestest friend that I will be missing with a Strawberry Daquiri, what we had when we went---only here's would be a Shirley Temple one.                I'm really going to miss "MY BESTEST FRIEND" SHIRLEY JEAN PENNER