Besties

Teri and I share so many memories there really are too many to count. We met in physics class at SMSU. (It will never be Missouri State.) We were silly sophomores, Teri a sorority girl, me a gosh-darn independent...at least for a little while longer. Those college years are kind of a blur; Teri seems to remember more details than I can. After graduation, we spend countless hours on the phone back in the day before there were nation-wide cell phone plans. Long distance phone calls to Teri were a part of my budget. We took turns traveling across the state, each trying to convince the other to move to our respective home cities. But I was loyal to St. Louis, and she was forever tied to K.C. We started our teaching careers around the same time and shared a love for music.

The older we get, the more time seems to elapse between visits and even phone calls, but one thing remains true. I know that Teri loves me unconditionally. She has modeled for me, the way to be a friend. I love her with all my heart.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of celebrating Teri's birthday with her and her precious family. We don't get to see each other very often, but when we do, it's sweet, sweet time. They were just passing through on the way to a beach vacation so it was less than twenty-four hours, but we got the chance to sit on the deck on a cool, June evening and talk for several uninterrupted hours--soothing to my soul. To my friend of twenty-six years, my bff, thanks for sharing your life with me and teaching me year after year what it means to be a friend. It is Wednesday, and U R GR8. ; )

 Adam lighting the candles

 ...and still lighting...

 ...okay, there were a lot of candles!

 The Curp Family

 Look at that smoke!

 BFFs

On another note...I have one more day of character education and two more days of summer school...then we're off!