Every day, I think of Cher-Bear. I think of those snapshot moments, memories of things that happened over the different phases of our friendship. of conversations where she gave me advice (alot), and encouraged me to go to to law school, also to get my head out of my ass (still not accomplished). of listening to what was happening in her life, raising her sweet kid. drinking red wine in the office of our old restaurant--she was the manager, and i was the server/bartender--and smoking too many cigarettes. i spent many nights with cheri (and alyssa) drinking wine and discussing… well, everything.
memories of just being together.
i went to Cheri's house and stayed there for days when i found out in a sudden way my marriage was over. Cheri sheltered me, more than once, but on some of the darkest days i have yet to know. Cheri barricaded me from everyone else, made me eat, made me sleep, and was such a balanced blend of kind and direct. she was so fucking awesome. i already loved her, but she reestablished why after those nasty few weeks. not that i needed reminding.
I have struggled over what to say, how to succinctly put into words how i met cheri, loved her, learned from, judged and was judged by her. she was very dear to me, for about a decade, and quite suddenly, she was gone. gone. she was a guide, a friend, a peer, a mentor. i miss her all the time. i think: how could March pass and Cheri not live to see it? and May??? and now June?
she died at 41. and she was important, and loved. by many. and she must be honored in all the ways i know how.
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