Billie - I could never talk about my real life without putting Billie first. She knows me maybe better than I know myself. We met in high school and did not hit it off. She was everything I wasn’t, and I would have never imagined that we would become friends, much less what we are today. But since the summer of 1970, we have had a bond that neither time nor space ever touches. We have travelled the country together; we have a beautiful daughter together (curious? Look for “Amy” in this list); she has taken care of me when I wouldn’t take care of myself or didn’t care anymore. She has always been there to tell me I can be or have what I want—I just need to believe in myself. I love this girl with my whole heart. She is my light when things are too dark to bear; she is my laughter when I can’t find a smile; she is my strength when I am too weak or too tired to keep going; she is my warmth in what sometimes is a very cold world; she is my shelter from the ravages of the hurt I have known. I have been so blessed to have her in my life and no one will ever take her place in my heart.
Sheila - This real time friend just happens to also be my real time cousin! We are the same age and have grown up together. She lives in Virginia but that distance has never been able to separate our hearts. Every summer of my teen years were spent in Virginia with her. The best memories of my teen years are those that Sheila is a part of. If life could make someone bitter, then she should be the nastiest person on earth. Her husband was killed when she was nine months pregnant with their only child. Tara Jo was born the day of her father’s funeral. Four years later her Mom, my Aunt Earlene, died leaving a six year old daughter that Sheila raised with Tara. My uncle remarried and then Sheila dealt with the “stepmonster” from hell! And now in the year and half since his passing, Sheila has remained the strength of her family—dealing with things that I would not wish on my worst enemy. In a world where your “kin” sometimes doesn’t count for much, I am so very fortunate to have Sheila as my cousin and even more—to have her as my friend. I love her more than words can ever explain.
Claudia - While I treasure my internet friends, there are certain people who, although I met them by computer, are so much more to me than words on a
screen. If anyone would have told me that I’d meet someone who would impact my life the way Claudia has, by using the internet, I would have said, “Yeah, right!” But, meet her I did and my life has never been the same. I can’t imagine a day without seeing “Hi Sis” flash onto my screen. And our phone calls, well, they often end with both of us in fits of hysterics over something or someone. I can’t wait for the day we finally get to spend some time together in person. How I wish I had of met her so many years ago. I know that she will be a part of my life forever. I love her so much.
Fred - This man is another person who could never remain listed as just a cyberpal. Words just can not express what meeting him has meant to me. I have known many men in my life, but I have never known one with the combination of attributes that Fred has. He is so genuine in a world of people pretending to be what they are not. His compassionate and caring
ways have lifted me times that I was so down. His humor and sometimes biting wit have reduced me to tears of laughter more than once. Our phone calls are often way past the hour mark and still going strong before the time I can regretfully say “GoodBye.” Someone told me once that God doesn’t always give us what we want in our life, but instead what He knows we need. So, without a shadow of a doubt, I know that God has put Fred in my life. And I know that he will always be someone very precious to me.
Roseanna - What can I say about one of the most giving and loving people I have ever met? She has a heart the size of Ohio. She is so giving—never asking anything in return. From the beginning there has been a special bond with her like that of a little sister. Even though she has moved away now she is in my thoughts so often and always in my heart. I have to add—one of the most incredible voices I have ever heard. I could listen to her sing forever!
Vicki - Although Vicki and I very seldom see each other anymore since she has someone special in her life, I still consider her one of my very best friends. I have never called her or needed her that she has not been there for me. She has been there for me when I couldn’t turn to my own family. She has been wonderful to Gina. She is the one who taught Gina to ride a bike; the one who taught her to do jumping jacks for gym class. She’s made sure every summer that Gina got to go somewhere special—Sea World, King’s Island, fairs, carnivals. Her heart has got to be made of gold. We have shared so much and I am so glad to see her happy and in love now even though it has caused us to not see each other as much. I could not imagine where I would be if she hadn’t been there for me all these years!! She is everything I wish I could be as a friend!
Deani - I met her in college. She was John’s best friend and it was not long before the three of us became inseparable. She’s a dentist now and I am so proud of what she has accomplished in her life. We have laughed together and we have cried together. We can go for months at a time and not talk, but when we do it is as if no time has passed. I have to include her husband, Louie, also. He’s a gem. Deani and I have done some crazy stuff to that poor man and he took it all like a trooper!! I have been fortunate in life to meet people that I know will be a part of my life for as long as I live. Deani and Louie are two of those people!
Tammy - If anyone has a reason to not be my friend, it would be Tammy. I have given this girl some grief in the years we have known each other. She is John’s baby sister. Oh the torture we put her through! She has had to put up with things from us putting a frozen turkey in bed with her one night to John banging her in the head with a phone receiver while she slept, (she could sleep through major earthquakes and never even whimper!) just to name a couple things. I met her when she was just 16 years old and I have watched her grow into a strong woman who has remained stoic no matter how bad things got. Now she’s a wonderful mother with three great kids. I know John is smiling down from Heaven at his baby sister. He would be so proud of the woman she is today.
Gina - No, not my daughter, but my daughter’s Godmother and who she was named after. I met Gina through John, Tammy, and Deani. She is feisty and so Italian! This is a girl who stood up in a movie theater and punched out the guy sitting behind her for spoiling the plot of a movie she was watching!! *LOL* She lives in Florida now and I miss our together times so much. She is the baby sister I never had. I love her dearly and cherish the times we do get to be together. We have shared so very much and the memories of times with her always bring a smile to my face.
Grace - My computer Godmother, she is the one who brought the internet to my house and installed it for free just because that is how she is!!! I met Grace through Billie and have we had some wild times—going to watch male strippers (Grace used to be a stripper herself), going to Casino gambling night for a private lodge and getting sooooooo wasted together. This is a woman who never fails to surprise me!! She is one of the most honest and open people I have ever met—another forever friend.
Don - My boss and my friend. I have known Don for over 25 years and I have seen him at his best and at his worst. He is a good man and I am so glad he is my friend. I have never asked Don for anything that he didn't try to help me with. I have seen Don happier in the past few months than I have in all the years I have known him, all due to my next friend, Vanessa.
Vanessa - My boss’ new wife and someone I am very happy to call my friend. I have never met anyone with such a loving personality. She must have one of the largest capacities to love of anyone I know. Anytime we are together I know I will get a hug and a kiss on the cheek and will get told I am loved. What a refreshing person to know in this world today. She has made Don so happy and I wish them so many more years of the bliss they share now.
UPDATE
Vanessa died very unexpectedly on June 8, 2003. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that she's gone. What a void there is in my life and this world now. I'm a better person for having known her and for being lucky enough to have had her as a friend. I will remember her with love for all the days of my life.
Doug P. - I met him when he was 14 years old. He is funny; he is sweet; he is loving; and he became so very important to me. We are still in touch today. He is one of the funniest men I know and definitely one of the most charismatic people I have ever known. He knows half the people in this town and I can’t think of anyone who does not love him from the moment they meet him. Summer before last, when I had to have surgery, it was Doug who went into surgery with me and held my hand while I was being sedated. He has such a capacity to give love and happiness to those around him. All that and a wonderful singer as well!!! I love to hear him sing and have been so proud to be his guest at weddings, where he was the featured soloist. I wish him happiness always. He will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Doug L. - This is Billie’s Sweetie and one of my Scrabble foes!! I bonded with Doug from the instant I met him. Maybe partly because he loves Billie so much, but I think Doug and I could have been friends even if we had not met through Billie. He now faces a couple of tough years because of his health. I only wish him the best of everything. Oh, and I must include that he is one of the most talented artists I have ever known. This man can paint an entire mountain scene on the lid of a two liter bottle of Pepsi. I will always treasure the things he has painted for me.
Tara Jo - This is my cousin Sheila’s daughter. I love her like she is my own. She is beautiful; she is so very precious to me. For many years I thought she would be the closest thing I’d ever get to a daughter. Even though I have Gina, my heart will forever hold a special spot for her. She has grown into a wonderful woman; a teacher for children with special needs. I am so proud to be a part of her life.
Nick - How could I have left out the mystery man of my guestbook? What can I say about my godson? I can say I have loved him since the day he was born and it would be true! I could say every time I look at the scar running under Gina's chin I think of how you can get my daughter to do anything, including getting on a mo-ped with you after I forbid her to get on it! *S* You will always be so special to me Nick. You have to be special for me to let Gina go on her first date with you when she was six years old!!! *G* Stay cool Nick and try to behave! Be a good Daddy to that precious son of yours. He is beautiful!
Amy - I always wanted to be a parent. I just never knew I would be a “Daddy” first before becoming a “Mommy.” *S* Amy is Billie’s daughter, and she is mine. The reasoning is a bit personal, but the bottom line is Amy should have been my child. And from the moment I first laid eyes on her I loved her. She doesn’t remember a time I wasn’t there with Billie around her and so it was natural that she assumed I was her Daddy. I remember the first time she screamed out “Daddy!!!” as I walked away from her in a store where we lived in Florida. I will never forget the stares we got. She’s married now and very successful, and I am still “Dad” to her—something that still touches my heart!!!