An Ode to Girlfriends
Auntie Cole is coming to town!
Plans are being formulated. Lists are being checked off. Girlfriends are waiting with bated breath to gather once again to welcome Terri’s BFF to town.
The only thing missing? Terri…
There’s no getting around it. When Nicole and I Face Timed yesterday, dotting our I’s and crossing our T’s to ensure all bases were covered for her arrival on Friday, she suddenly looked up, her gorgeous blue eyes locking with mine, and said, “I miss Terri,” tears flowing down her cheeks.
“I know,” I replied.
“I miss my best friend.”
“I know…”
The two of them were inseparable, their bond, otherworldly. I remember when Terri entered hospice, Nicole looked at me and my best friend, Peggy, and said, “I’m not leaving until Terri leaves…”
But that’s the type of sacred sisterhood Terri elicited. She was like a magnet; radiating pure, unconditional love, a boundless zest for living life large, and a profound and binding capacity to connect. Once she graced you with the gift of her friendship, you were in for life.
And now, thanks to Terri, my sacred circle of sisterhood has swelled to include her nearest and dearest girlfriends—Nicole, Moe, Amy, Irene, Rani. And Miss M’s sisterhood has grown too, thanks to our commitment to cultivate the next girlfriend generation—Jillian, Riley, Kaya, Naomi, Mila, Talisa, and Soso.
On Friday, Miss M will meet the newest member of the girlfriend brigade, Auntie Cole’s daughter, Annabelle.
In my heart of hearts, I know Terri will be sitting right along side us, savoring every second of our visit. After all, she is the pulse of our sisterhood…
Love,
Auntie L
PS—Check out my latest article in Herself360, an ode to my girlfriends entitled, The Pulse of Sisterhood.
My girlfriends are my lifelines! And more importantly after my mom died when I was 9, similar to Miss M, they helped raise me.
Beautiful article! Have a wonderful time together this weekend!
Thank you Cara ❤️
Love to you all. I thank you for your amazing posts, I hold them close to my heart.
I am Terri’s friend from Tipp City, Jennifer (the redhead!), and I have thought if Terri and Nicole SO MUCH over the years.
Without going into specifics, I wanted to pass on a little information from my end. I have been very, very reluctant to do so, but wanted to let you know that Terri has been with me SO MUCH over the past years, but eapecially over the last 11 months.
I was diagnosed with Stage II and Stage I Breast Cancer last September (I had two different types of cancer in each of my breasts). Terri has been my guardian angel through this entire ordeal. On my darkest days, I have felt her presence. It seemed that when I thought of her, suddenly a Graceful Woman Warrior post manifested. On several occasions, a picture of Terri would produce itself around my home- while rummaging through piles of bills or papers from my children’s school- there the picture of Terri would be, from a picnic we had on the banks of our stream- Terri with Miss M and Spider, myself and our now 10 year old Henry.
So, SO MUCH love goes from my heart to your family. Nicole- I have held you in my heart, especially seeing the birth of your gorgeous daughter! Terri would have just melted with pure joy and elation for you and your beautiful life!!! You are amazing and you have such beauty to give to humanity! Terri’s spirit continues to run through you!
Please know my friend Terri has come to me- through my double mastectomy, certainly during all of my chemo and radiation treatments, then with my full hysterectomy and oofarectamy. AND NOW WITH RECOVERY. Living life to the FULLEST. TAKING EACH DAY and recognizing the gift each day is. This is Terri- she would have wanted me to live life grandly! Non-apologetically!
Have a beautiful time visiting each other. I don’t expect you to remember me, but please know that you all have had such a deep impact in my life, more than you will ever know. I miss Terri- but wow- has she been with me…she has been my guardian angel. Love from me and my family to yours.
Love to you all-
Jennifer Moorhead
Dearest Jennifer,
Of COURSE I remember you ❤️ And your beloved Henr y❤️ My heart aches for the cancer journey that invaded your life. I have absolutely NO doubt our girl has been with you each and every step of the way. Please know your “family” has just expanded to include all of us here who had the privilege of meeting you in Ohio. As well as all of the Graceful Woman Warrior community. We are BEAMING light and love and healing to you across the miles. Miss M and I will be sure to connect with you when we hit our final stop on our Dream Book Tour—Troy, Ohio. With NYC finally scheduled for October 18th, I am determined to fulfill my promise to Miss M to bring her “home” to Troy. With love and endless light, Auntie L
PS—not sure you knew but Auntie Cole had TWINS!!! She is convinced Terri helped manifest her dream of becoming a mother❤️ OUr girl has certaily been very busy “on the other side…”