I have been putting this off

 

On May 1, 2023, my dear friend, Millie Kozikis, passed away. My heart broke when I heard the news, but I could not cry for her. She had suffered so long and so much, that she deserved peace. Instead, I cried for myself, because I miss her so much.



I first met her at an outdoor craft show in August of 1997. I was new to the craft circuit at that point, and I had forgotten that I would need a hammer to drive the tent's support stakes into the ground. I asked a friendly looking lady near me if I could borrow her hammer.



“Sure” she said, and flipped it to me backhanded. She did not even aim it...she just tossed it. I caught it, which was good, or it would still be in my mouth.



Fast forward many years, and Millie and I had become business partners on the State Office buildings' vendor's circuit. We were doing six days straight in various State owned buildings, and we were getting pretty worn out, to say nothing of how silly we were getting.



At one point on a Friday show, I turned to her and said, “Hey, Millie, did you ever think when you threw that hammer at me years ago that we'd still be working together?”



She answered, glibly, “Was that you?” and snapped her fingers.



“I'm crushed,” I said. “I thought you always knew who I was.” I pretended to pout, as though my feelings were truly hurt.



“Hell, no. I've been trying to place you all these years.”



We laughed until we cried; now, I'm crying again. I miss you, Millie.

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