The Friend Who Taught Me How to Love

Yesterday was the birthday of my childhood friend, Patricia Jean Butler. Patricia and I met as little girls at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and we spent nearly every Sunday morning together—often followed by long afternoons at each other’s homes. Over those many Sundays, we forged an unbreakable bond that carried us through childhood and into…

The Death of a Childhood Friend as I Turn 60

I learned today that my childhood friend, Cheryl Hicks, has died of a heart attack, just three weeks before her 60th birthday.  I went from first grade through twelfth with Cheryl and spent a good amount of time at her home growing up. I haven’t seen her in a long time, but she is one…