This is Sharon, for those of you who don't know who she is.I have known Sharon, it seems like most of my life. We were cousins by marriage, and now we are not. We are just besties
We grew up together as newly married ladies. We were pregnant at the same time, both times. Our oldest children were born six weeks apart, Tim was first, then Michelle. Then Todd was born eight weeks before Mark. We have shared many many things over these years. When the kids were little, and I mean little, we would get together at her house or mine and play games. We spent lots of hours together comparing notes on child rearing. When Mark was seven months old, (1971) we moved to Newton, it was hard to leave my friend behind. Not too long after that, they moved to Sioux City Iowa. One Thanksgiving, Gary and I and the boys went to Sioux City. We were all going to have Thanksgiving together. Interestingly enough, neither Sharon nor I had ever cooked a turkey. When we got it out of the wrapping, we both just stood there and laughed. It was most definitely naked. We cleaned the package of giblets out of the chest part. Only thing, when the turkey was done, we found the "other " package of giblets that was in the butt. It was a dinner to remember. From Sioux City they moved to Des Monies; then a suburb of Detroit; Piscatoway NJ; and finally Simsbury CT. John's job with the US Postal Service moved them around a lot. In the mid 1990's, Sharon came back home to Wichita. Her daughter lives in New Orleans, and her son in Chicago. She is the proud grandma of two beautiful kids, Lily and Luke. Through all of the moves, Sharon and I always remained close. When my boys were married she came from Simsbury both times. How many of you can say a friend traveled all those miles just to share in a family joy. Sharon's family lives here. Her brother and his family and her mom. She lost her dad to Alzheimer's a few years ago.
Sharon is the kindest most loving, giving person I know. I have said many times that without her friendship and strength I would not made it through my time of grief. She made her self available all the time, not just some of the time. I will always be grateful for her friendship and love. We have done some crazy things over these years. We have gone on trips together, been lost together, slipped and slid on ice, when we should have been at home. For most of the past ten years, we have set aside one night a week just to have dinner and talk. We can talk about anything without offending either of us. She gives me advice and I return the favor. We have grunted and groaned about everything you can think of. Nothing is off limits. It is so good to have someone you can talk to without it traveling to places it shouldn't go. She has always celebrated the successes of me, my kids, my grand kids, birthdays etc. And in return I have always done the same. When you're feeling low, you can count on a card in your mailbox, or a bouquet of flowers. I can't say enough about Sharon. She is my lifetime friend and I cannot imagine my life without her in it.
