Today is Dec 7, 2005. A year ago, a good friend had a very unfortunate event that lead to death. She had preclampsia and that got worst with her asthma and high blood pressure. The doctors saved her baby, but were unable to save her. After a blood transfusion something went wrong and her brain died. The next day, Dec 8, by midday, her husband asked the doctors to turn off the machine that kept her body alive. A kid, a newborn, and a husband were left behind, along with all the people that she took care and was responsible for in matters of medication, preparing food, doctors appointments, and all that without mentioning work. The whole thing was unexpected and a great blow to those who valued her immensely. I want to take a moment to let the world know a bit about who was Betsynet.

Betsy was the only person I could call friend at San Juan's work office. She called me everyday, to update me on things about work and to see how I was doing. In her busy schedule she always had time for me, and she always remembered the little things. I met her when I started working at ARV in SJ, she was the secretary of the MIS director… so not oddly enough, she ran the complete office. A flawless commander, she gave out orders to everyone, from the big boss to the cleaning crew. She made sure that job tickets were taken care of, that messages reached their destiny, that our overtime counted in matters of paycheck, as well as she always tried to create a family-environment full of small gatherings just because. Her attitude was always cheerful, even if she had to go in the middle of the morning to pick up her son and take him to emergency because he had an asthma attack… or even if she had to baby-sit her mom at the hospital the night before. In an office of lost & found, she always knew where everything was, and she always performed her duty at more than her best. She was polite and nice to those she didn't like, thinking that they were that way because of their own problems and issues. She didn't waste time on gossip, she had a life to live.

After I was transferred to Mayaguez I though she would join all those people that claim to be friends but after a while of distance simply cool off… Not her. Every morning she had a moment to call, even if she had no jobs for me. In time I could tell things became really stressing over there because of her confidences. People who were nice turned into jerks. Everyone was fighting a cold war, and she was left in the middle of it because of her sensitive position. Nevertheless, in the middle of it all, she did her job, did not double cross anyone, gave good advise even to those jerks who did everything to get her off her position. At work the common harassing environment became worst everyday, since all that people could do was screw her life up since she could not be taken off her duty because she did a perfect job. Evidently, that continual screwing up her daily life had a toll in her. She married a guy that she had been going out with for a time, the event was short and sweet, and very nice. It was one of her happiest moments.

Betsy and Tony were made for each other, he loved her child, and they constantly took time off to travel throughout the island getting to know each of its prettiest corners, as well as to travel to the states. She once went to Salem and brought me a charcoal drawing from the witches' museum. I can say with no doubts that the time she spent with Tony and her son was well spent, she lived her life to the fullest. And she found the time to be kind and of service to everyone around her. In several occasions I stayed at her home in order to attend meetings and trainings at SJ. I always felt I was staying with family. Her latest project, finally getting a house of their own, came true. The last year she spent making improvements in order to have an at home office for her husband and a room for the new addition to the family. And at work, her pregnancy was not an obstacle for her doing her best, and for people screwing her life even further.

The time of her baby shower came, and they did a small gathering to celebrate it. It has been a Saturday. I could not attend because of my car, I could not travel that far. Next Monday I called to ask how was everything and I was given the news that she was in the hospital. No one told me it was something serious. The next day she died.

Betsy always thought of every problem "Que se joda!" She did her things and didn't really care about anyone else's opinion. A good daughter, a good mother, a devoted wife, a good friend… She gave me a taste of how life should be, that anything can be accomplished, and that you better take charge of things now because tomorrow may be too late. She died young, but she truly lived. Not everyone can say that. She did all the things she wanted to, she worked at a profession she liked, and she found true love and kept it. She brought a smile to anyone around her, and hope to anyone who was sad or tired. She made you feel important even if you had done nothing at all.
Betsynet: You are missed every hour, everyday. A whole year has passed, and your absence has demonstrated to many that you were invaluable and irreplaceable. May you enjoy a last laugh when you look down towards us. Thanks for all your lessons, my friend. RIP.