“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.” ~ Prince
Yesterday, my mother sent to me a copy of her local telephone company’s newsletter/magazine. On the cover was my old friend and classmate Jill Cline Salyer (pictured above at our 30 year high school reunion in September 2013).
From the article I learned some things about Jill’s struggles that I hadn’t known. Diagnosed in 2009 with breast cancer, by the time we had our reunion in 2013 she’d undergone a double mastectomy, radiation for tumors on her brain in 2010, and in 2011, learned to walk again after radiation on a spinal tumor left her paralyzed from the waist down. She walked into our party with a smile that never left her face. I don’t have a single picture of her without it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of Jill over the last 50 years when she wasn’t smiling come to think of it. I’ve seen her several times since 2009 but never once have I heard her complain. The article confirmed that she doesn’t complain, not even to God. By all accounts, she should not have survived the very aggressive breast cancer, let alone the two other times it has reared its ugly head. And yet, here she is, seven years later telling her story. I think of Jill every time I feel down or ill, reminded that, in the big picture, my struggles are small, and I should be grateful for every blessed moment I have. She is no less than an angel walking among us in strength and kindness. I’m honored to call her friend.
Jill pictured above (top to bottom) with Tim Gevedon when they were crowned King and Queen of the 30th reunion (I think that’s what the award was for), her husband John Salyer, and her two best friends Lisa Clevenger Fannin and Alisa Marshall Burnett.
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