NAT'S POST: We may have lost our dearest friend yesterday but today we gained our "Guardian Angel". In my heart I know that she won't stop being our rock, she cared for all of us way too much.

Now is the time for all of us to carry on her examples and share all the life lessons that she taught. She will expect us to be strong & carry on, keep stories alive with laughter, and continue teaching others. Being a good, fair, and honest person was what Karyl Beem was all about! She will be extremely missed but never ever ever forgotten.

Joan & I, along with many friends and family spent the day with her at the hospital. Her breathing was labored, and we were told she wouldnt last the day. Just in case, we told her how much she meant to all of us, her entire dart family, and that we loved her, and would see her soon! I finally made myself leave the family to be alone. Her son Luis, daughter Jana, and 2 neices were with her during the final minutes. Karyl passed through the gates of heaven alittle after 7pm last night. She was completely at peace and was ready to be with Ray.

She mentioned "Captain Morgan's" more than once yesterday, so for Karyl, toast her with her favorite, tell stories, and remember "we haven't lost a friend but we have gained an angel"! Nat

Please take the time to post funny stories and share "YOUR" Karyl with us! She did make each of us feel that we were "SPECIAL" which was one of her greatest gifts!

The benefit is still going full strength ahead, we would like to be able to pay for her Memorial Service with the contributions from her friends & dart family!**

JOAN'S POST: You know, several of us who were at the hospital made ourselves leave so we could give Karyl's family time to reflect and have some private time with her. It was hard to leave, but losing my Mom not long ago, I knew it was the right thing to do. Nat and I agreed, although neither of us (or anyone else that was there) wanted to be sensible at that time.

It was good that we all got to have our alone time with Karyl before we all finally left. Although sedated, I know she heard us. When I got there in the morning, though, I had a short amount of some good quality time with Karyl, so it made it easier (if there is such a thing) because of HER. Even at that awful, awful time, she made the point to tell me how proud she was of me taking the reigns from her. I told her I thought there was pressure before, but her saying that made me afraid I would let her and everyone down. She said keep doing what I'm doing and we'll continue to have a great league and tournament. BUT, when I kinda argued with her, she did agree with me that this whole area has the most awesome dart players, which is really what makes things work -not just one person. When I was telling Gene and Nat what she and I were talking about, I couldn't even bring that up...it made me too weepy. Imagine - even when she was faced with her own ending, Karyl was worried about me and all of us! A Great Quote for Karyl: "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." Sir Winston Churchill Karyl made a wonderful life. Perhaps we can all learn from her and be that giving - not JUST for now, but STARTING now - and continuing on.

About the time she was passing into peace, Gene and I were toasting her with Captain Morgan and Diet coke (but they didn't have caffeine free, which is, as we all know, what really goes with Cap'n Morgan). I was talking to Nat, and she was doing the same thing with her team. I told several people where we were going to be playing that night about her passing, and they became quite upset, naturally. Golly, I had been crying on and off all day, so of course they would be upset to learn the sudden news. The last that many of them heard was that she had 8 - 10 months. I told them how good it was that she was no longer suffering, but that wasn't really working to console them. So, I did a Karyl-inspired thing, which did seem to help. I told them, "SUCK IT UP AND THROW YOUR DARTS!" Karyl wouldn't want us to cry. I'm sad for all of us for losing a dear friend and inspiration, but glad for her . . . she didn't deserve even a moment of suffering.

We stuck around after darts and reminisced with a lot of people. We came up with some doozies! When you come out to her memorial, favor us with some of your stories of Karyl - we all have a lot! She'd want us all to be laughing with her and not crying for her. At one point yesterday when I was leaned over her wiping her brow, a tear fell on her arm. Her eyes flew open and I said, "oops- didn't mean to drip on you." She said what we thought was 'don't do that.' Easier said than done, but my tears are not coming so much now (mostly) because I don't think she'd like that. I just think of her fondly and smile, which is how she would want it.

-joan