~from Ami
I ran into one of my best friends from my Prairie Grove, AR, junior high school days last Saturday at my signing.

In the midst of my depressing home life, Terri's house was always a haven of acceptance and normalcy for me. Terri's parents were still married (!!) and her grandmother lived in the house also, cooking for the entire family and visitors. Her grandma kept a drawerful of Double Bubble gum and dollar bills to give out.

Terri's mother, Ann, gave piano lessons in a huge plant-filled atrium at the back of the house, where birds sang and the sounds of Bach filtered through each room. I could count on spending the night there anytime, watching music videos until one a.m. or swimming in the pool. Her parents were warm and encouraging, and invited me along on family vacations to Branson and Eureka Springs.

One of our summer activities was sitting on the front porch after placing a ripe tomato in the street, waiting for the first car who'd come along and squish it, tomato guts splattering everywhere. (This was a small town with very little to do!) My favorite memory comes from when we were about fourteen. Terri's dad would let us drive their huge Cadillac around town, while he lay down and hid in the back seat, making it look like we were out cruising by ourselves.

Not one day went by that I didn't wish I were Terri, with my own room and car and parents who joked around. But I had my own path to travel and my own lessons to learn.

When Terri came to my signing, I was amazed because I heard she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer. Then I found out she'd had a double masectomy TWO WEEKS prior-- and was out walking around with her husband and baby daughter, wearing pink capris and looking like she'd just stepped out of a magazine. It's hard to understand why she's been through so much, from her daughter's health scares and losing her wonderful and amazing mother to cancer, to now facing her own sickness at such a young age.

Terri has developed a strong exterior and has come out fighting. I'll continue to keep her in my prayers and am thankful for all she's defeated already. She is a dear friend who, without realizing it, provided so much for me when I needed it most. If you'd like to hear more about her journey, please visit her cancer journaling page and maybe drop her a note of hope! If you have friends currently facing their own battle with cancer, please pass this link along, as Terri's story will surely encourage them.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/terripittman