The blessing of Friendship

While my life has been filled with a lot of traggedy, it has also been filled with amazing things and amazing friends. I decided to dedicate a series to my friendships because they are a huge part of my survival and celebration throughout life. I have always treasured the friends I have, for I am so blessed to have so many!

If you know me, then you know my girlfriend Lisa, we met in 9th grade at North Royalton High School, coming from two different cities we already had some common ground, she was supposed to beat me up. I was dating the same boy her friend in Parma was dating. Obviously the "fight" never happened, in fact Lisa has never gotten in a fight with anyone. But our friendship was solid from that day forward.

Lisa has been there for me through all my ups and downs and supported me in ways I didn't even know I needed. Buying and modeling dresses for me in front of my  family, and making us laugh when I didn't know laughing was possible, after Ryan died. When I got the call that Joe was on his way to the hospital because of  his aneurysm, it was from Lisa, and as EVERYTHING else has happened in my life, good or bad, if she wasn't calling me, I was calling her. 

She has been my voice of reason when lost, sharing the joys in my life with unselfish love and always there with a glass of wine to catch up!  My thinner stunt double on the speaking roles, including Jane's service and standing up for me whenever I needed.

She is always genuinly happy for my successes in life and heartbroken for the losses. She lost her mom at a young age, I lost my son, we both lost our fathers, her sister was dating my brother when he passed away, recently losing Buddha and everyone else we know together are family to us both.

I believe God put her in my life a long time ago, for she has truly saved me!