The top picture is (left to right) Merle Clark and Ruth Rainwater.  They were my mother-in-law Marie's Sunday school classmates. 

Merle died Tuesday at age 90.

The second picture is Darlene Zech and me at Anna's retirement party.  Anna and Darlene were co-workers.

Darlene died today.

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Merle and I had a good rapport.  I think it is because we both were smokers that quit.  I think ex-smokers have a good rapport because they understand each other beyond words.

On the other hand, Darlene could not stand my smoking.  In the evenings she and I carpooled together to Kennesaw Jr. College.  We also had a good rapport, of course not because of my smoking, but because my drinking.  We played hooky and went to her apartment complex's beer parties.   One night an ex-nun drunk us under the table.  We liked to remind each other of that.