Shari

I love this picture of my cousin, Shari.  I can almost hear her voice saying, "Bye y'all!" as she headed out our grandmother's door.  Shari was always filled with energy and had places to go and things to do.

As a kid I looked up to Shari and figured she was the toughest girl I knew.  (she was)  She could do anything she put her mind to and was an adventuress at heart.  She was incredibly kind to me, her (annoying) younger cousin.  She would take me out in the bayou on her boat, drive me down to the beach to walk along the white sands of the gulf, and let me hang out with her in the office of the campground her family ran.  She introduced me to Barq's root beer and to shrimp po-boy sandwiches.  She loved the music of Jimmy Buffett and Hank Williams, Jr. which meant that I, too, loved them.  I cannot hear "One Particular Harbor" or "A Country Boy (Girl) Can Survive" without thinking of Shari.  She was a lover of animals - all kinds.  She was one of the hardest working people I have ever known.  She took good care of the people she loved, always.

Shari and Laura - 1981

Shari died of breast cancer on September 19.  She was far too young at 54, but she lived those years out to the fullest.  I am going to miss her.  Shari and I grew closer as adults.  I (hopefully) stopped being the annoying younger cousin (although that is debatable!) and we became true friends.  Particularly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when, for whatever reason, Shari's cell phone could call out to my cell phone even when it couldn't reach anyone else.  She told me that I had felt like her lifeline during that time, but I remember being so honored that she called and so thankful for the long talks it afforded us.  When her Mom got ill and then when Shari was diagnosed with cancer, our conversations changed some.  Deeper in many ways.  We talked about fears, hopes, what heaven would be like.  Shari was clear-eyed, but never gave up hope.  I hoped alongside her.

I have been thinking about writing this post for almost 3 weeks now.  It has been a hard one.  How to put into words Shari's life and beauty and determination and strength and light?  I treasure these good memories of Shari and am thankful for the mark she left on my life and the lives of so many.

This picture is all the more poignant now...
Grandmother, Aunt Aleta, and Shari - together again.

Shari with her life-long best friend, her brother Jeff.
1994

Johnny and Shari

Daddy and Shari - June 2004

Laura and Shari - 2014

Jonathan, Aleta, Charlie, Mama, Daddy, Shari, Johnny

Shari's wonderful business - Creature's Comfort Pet Lodge

Shari made it all beautiful.

Charlie, Shari, Johnny

Hannah, Jeff, Shari, Julie, Daddy, Mama, Jackson, Laura, Marvin, Jonathan
July 2017

Shari with her camper - July 2017
Go read about Shari's brave journey last summer.

Shari, Daddy, Jeff, Mama, Hannah - at Truman State University

Shari shared some precious family heirlooms.

Shari loved Julie's gardens!

Julie and Shari

Matthew, Anna, Julie, Shari, Jeff, Mama, Daddy, Hannah, Marvin, Laura, Jonathan

family photo before Aleta's funeral - December 2017
Shari, Steve, Charlie, Jeff, Daddy, Mama, Cindy

Johnny, Shari, Daddy, Mama, Jeff, Cindy, Steve, Charlie, Laura
at Aleta's funeral

I am so very thankful that Shari and Jeff were able to come to the Missouri State Fair this summer.  Shari enjoyed the fair and got to meet Hank Williams Jr backstage before attending his concert.  A precious memory.

Shari, Hank Williams, Jr, Jeff

Jeff and Shari at the concert

Marvin, Zack, Laura, Jack, Sue, Jeff, Shari, Jackson, Brianna

Shari wanted to ride the ferris wheel.

I love this photo so much.

Daddy gave Shari some gifts for the road.
She ended up LOVING that little lobster and named him Louie.
She sent me photos of Louie several times.  :) 

Jonathan, Daddy, Mama, Marvin, Jeff, Shari, Zack

Laura, Shari, Mama - Aug. 2018

How do you say goodbye?

Shari and Jeff sent this photo on their way home from the fair -
saying Louie was ready to stop for the evening.  :) 

"Did I send you this pic before?  This lobster keeps following me around."  :)

Shari's husband, Johnny, also had cancer.  His was diagnosed only this year, but incredibly, Johnny died Tuesday evening, October 9.  Just shy of three weeks after Shari's death.  It makes this photo Shari sent me (the last one of Louie) especially poignant.  She and Johnny had been at MD Anderson for appointments.

"Be glad to get home, Louie is waiting on the bed for us."

Love you, Shari.