"The Glue That Holds Us Together"

In life there are the "stickers" and the stickees." The "stickers" are the ones who hold us together, and the "stickees" are the ones who are held. In my circle of friends the "sticker" is Gayle. She is our earth mother, our confidant, our sister, and our best friend. When there is joy, you will find Gayle there. When there is sorrow, you will find Gayle there. And most especially whenever there is need, there is Gayle.

My wife and I met her when we moved to Perry oh so many years ago. We became instant friends and have remained so. I immediately felt I had found the sister that had been missing from my life, and she became one of the brightest spots of an already bright life.

It soon was obvious Gayle was a "sticker." Whenever there was a need in our community Gayle got things organized to help out. She is a genius at raising money, collecting food, or doing whatever is necessary to make sure that people who are hurting are helped. Through some method of telepathy she just knows what is needed to be done.

Whenever one of our children has become engaged, Gayle holds the engagement party. It is an accepted fact she is going to do this and she does it up right. She gets the right people together and she makes sure the "couple" feels right at home in her home. It is a tradition and I hope it goes on through our grandchildren's engagements.

After we had only been in Perry, Georgia a few years my wife had some health problems and had to have minor surgery. I fell apart. Just knew the worst was happening. Who was there to comfort me and to take care of Terry? Gayle, of course. She was the steady rock we both relied on.

Every year on Christmas night we head to Gayle's. She has forty people or so in for supper - a full supper. There is so much food you can't eat it all, and there is so much love and warmth you can't absorb it all. I tell my kids they can miss some special days during the year but on Christmas night I expect them to be at Gayle's house. It just wouldn't be right for anyone not to be there.

Through the years she has been the "glue" that has held us all together. We adore her and we couldn't get along without her. I don't think we ever tell her how much she means to us but it is more than words could ever say. As I start this new year of 2005 I want to publicly state that we love Gayle. She is the perfect friend and everybody should have the honor and privilege in their life to know someone like her. I hope you do.

As long as Gayle is our friend we will be "stuck on her." She makes our lives better by all she does and just by being who she is.

 

 

 

 

 

©2004 Jackie K. Cooper

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