Marilyn Dieckhoff has died at age 64. She was my friend and co-worker for over 20 years. We all knew she was on borrowed time by smoking like a chimney for so many years.
She was so addicted to smoking that we would work our lives around her addition. If I had a work question that needed immediate attention, I knew if she wasn’t at her desk, she could be found downstairs outside in the smoking section. When going to lunch, we would always opt for the restaurants that still had smoking sections. In the summer months we ate at tables outside.
There was no question about her quitting. That was not going to be discussed or even viewed as an option. She had a gruff smokers voice and had lost tooth after tooth to this addition. With but a few teeth left in the front she finally gave into a having a bridge put in. It brought sparkle to here contagious smile. I remember I search through antique stores for just the interesting gift to give her in celebration of her re-newed smile. I found a silver box with a script “D” monogrammed on the front that opened to a little mirror. She must have liked it as she tacked the note to “enjoy your new smile” on her cube wall for years.
She left us too soon and will be missed. There was so much life to live and she embarrassed it fully. She loved her family and they cane first no matter what.