The day quickly took a turn for the worse, however.  I had left my cell phone in my car (Wanda drove to Tempe) so I'd missed a call from one of the Foothills ladies.  When I reunited with my phone and listened to the message I was stunned by very sad news.  Carolyn's husband Gary never woke up this morning.  

While he hadn't been feeling well lately (with back pain), she was totally unprepared for his death and is (not surprisingly) in shock.  Carolyn and I have been friends ever since I joined Busy Bees many years ago, and share a special bond: we have the same birthday (although ten years apart.)